CVRN-BC Cardiovascular Review Flashcards

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering cardiovascular dysfunction, hemodynamics, ECG interpretation, syndromes, and pharmacology based on lecture notes.

Aortic Stenosis

The constriction or narrowing of the aortic valve opening, characterized findings such as a midsystolic ejection murmur, S3, S4, and left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy without dilation.

Aortic Regurgitation

Backward blood flow through the aortic valve, which may present as exertional dyspnea, fatigue, and systolic/diastolic murmurs; intra-aortic balloon pumps (IABPs) are contraindicated in acute cases.

Tricuspid Stenosis

A rare condition usually associated with mitral valve stenosis, presenting with fatigue, paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea, hepatomegaly, and a diastolic murmur.

Tricuspid Regurgitation

Backward blood flow through the tricuspid valve, often associated with right ventricular (RV) dilation, mitral stenosis, and pulmonary hypertension.

Mitral Stenosis

Narrowing of the mitral valve opening where $60\%$ of patients have a history of rheumatic heart diagnosis; it often manifests as exertional dyspnea, atrial fibrillation (AFib), and a diastolic murmur.

Mitral Regurgitation

Backward flow of blood through the mitral valve; it is the only condition where pulmonary artery occlusive pressure (PAOP) is greater than diastolic pulmonary artery pressure.

Central Venous Pressure (CVP)

A measurement of right ventricular preload with a normal range of $2-6\,mm\,Hg$.

Pulmonary Artery Occlusive Pressure (PAOP)

Also known as wedge pressure, it represents left end diastolic filling pressure (LV preload) with a normal range of $5-12\,mm\,Hg$.

Systemic Vascular Resistance (SVR)

A measure of left ventricular afterload calculated as $\frac{\text{MAP} - \text{CVP}}{\text{CO}} \times 80$, with a normal range of $800-1200\,dynes/sec/cm^{-5}$.

Transmembrane Resting Potential (TRP)

The electrical charge of a myocardial cell at rest, normally $-80$ to $-90\,mV$; maintenance requires adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and the $Na$-$K$ pump.

Posterior 12-Lead ECG

An altered ECG using leads V7-V9 (placed from V6 toward the spine) to look closely at the back side of the heart, specifically the LV free wall.

Right-Sided 12-Lead ECG

An ECG where leads V4-V6 are mirrored on the right side of the chest; $0.5\,mm$ of ST segment elevation in V4R is indicative of right ventricular infarction.

Sinus Arrhythmia

A rhythm that is regularly irregular according to respiration, where the heart rate increases with inspiration.

Atrial Flutter

A rhythm originating from a re-entry circuit in the right atrium, characterized by "sawtooth" F waves and an atrial rate of $250-350\,bpm$.

Wandering Atrial Pacemaker (WAP)

An irregularly irregular rhythm characterized by having three or more different shapes of P waves.

Supraventricular Tachycardia (SVT)

A regular rhythm with a rate of $150-250\,bpm$ where P waves are usually not seen.

Junctional Rhythm

A rhythm originating from the AV node near the mitral valve with a rate of $40-60\,bpm$ and P waves that may be absent, inverted, or follow the QRS.

Idioventricular Rhythm (IVR)

A series of ventricular escape beats with a rate of $20-40\,bpm$ and wide, bizarre QRS complexes; often the last stage prior to asystole.

Torsades De Pointes

A form of polymorphic ventricular tachycardia characterized by a "twisting of the points" and a prolonged QT interval ($> 0.50\,sec$), often caused by low $Mg$.

Capture Beat

A beat during ventricular tachycardia where an atrial depolarization conducts through the AV node to form a normal-appearing QRS complex.

Mobitz I (Wenckebach)

A second-degree AV block characterized by a progressively longer PR interval until a QRS complex is dropped.

Mobitz II

A second-degree AV block where the PR interval remains consistent but QRS complexes are dropped; it is often associated with anterior wall MI and requires a permanent pacemaker.

Wolff-Parkinson-White (WPW) Syndrome

A pre-excitation syndrome caused by the Bundle of Kent accessory pathway, appearing as a short PR interval and a slurred delta wave at the start of the R wave.

Bifascicular Block

A conduction block involving both the right bundle branch and one of the left bundle branch fascicles (anterior or posterior).

Axis Deviation

A measurement of frontal plane net electrical direction; left axis deviation is $-31$ to $-90$ degrees, and right axis deviation is $+91$ to $+180$ degrees.

QRS Alternans

An ECG pattern where QRS complexes vary in height from beat to beat, associated with pericardial effusions and cardiac tamponade.

Dextrocardia

A condition where the apex of the heart points to the right side of the body, appearing on an ECG as inverted waves in lead I and positive waves in AVR.

Brugada Syndrome

A genetic mutation affecting $Na$ channel regulation; diagnostic ECG findings include a "coved" ST elevation $> 2\,mm$ in leads V1 and V2 followed by a negative T wave.

Adrenergic Sympathetic Nervous System

The "fight or flight" system that increases heart rate and causes vasoconstriction via alpha and beta receptors.

Cholinergic Parasympathetic Nervous System

The "resting state" system that decreases heart rate and blood pressure by increasing vagal tone via acetylcholine receptors.

Postpericardiotomy Syndrome (PPS)

An inflammatory or autoimmune reaction occurring 1-6 weeks after iatrogenic or traumatic injury to the pericardium, presenting with fever, chest pain, and friction rubs.

Oversensing

A pacemaker malfunction where small electrical waves are incorrectly seen as heartbeats, requiring the sensitivity to be decreased by turning the $mV$ dial UP.

Undersensing

A pacemaker malfunction where the device fails to recognize intrinsic beats, requiring the sensitivity to be increased by turning the $mV$ dial DOWN.

VVI Pacemaker Mode

A mode where the electrode is in the ventricle, it paces the ventricle, senses ventricular activity, and inhibits output when activity is detected.

Systolic Heart Failure

Heart failure with reduced ejection fraction ($\text{HFrEF}$) where $\text{LVEF} < 40\%$, characterized by an enlarged LV with thinned walls.

Diastolic Heart Failure

Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction ($\text{HFpEF}$) where $\text{LVEF} > 50\%$, characterized by concentric hypertrophy (thick walls).

Prinzmetal Angina

A variant angina caused by coronary artery spasms, occurring most often in cycles during early morning hours.

Cardiac Syndrome X

Microvascular angina characterized by chest pain without evidence of epicardial coronary abnormalities, more common in peri-/postmenopausal women.

Fibrinolytics

Medications like Alteplase (tPA) and Tenecteplase (TNK-tPA) that dissolve blood clots; they are contraindicated in cases of suspected aortic dissection or active bleeding.

Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone System (RAAS)

A system initiated by the kidneys to protect renal blood flow by releasing renin, ultimately leading to the formation of Angiotensin II (a vasoconstrictor) and Aldosterone (which retains $Na$ and $H_2O$).

Arterial Oxygen Concentration (CaO2)

A measurement of oxygen content in blood where normal is $20\,mL/dL$; calculated as $(\text{Hgb} \times 1.36 \times \text{SaO}_2) + (\text{PaO}_2 \times 0.0031)$.

V/Q Mismatch

An imbalance between alveolar ventilation (V) and pulmonary capillary perfusion (Q); a ratio $> 0.8$ indicates alveolar dead space, while $< 0.8$ indicates an intrapulmonary shunt.