Category: Cardiology
Keywords: post-cardiac arrest care, early goal directed therapy (PubMed Search)
Posted: 5/24/2009 by Amal Mattu, MD
(Updated: 4/23/2024)
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Category: Cardiology
Keywords: ST-segment elevation (PubMed Search)
Posted: 5/17/2009 by Amal Mattu, MD
(Updated: 4/23/2024)
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There are multiple causes of electrocardiographic ST-segment elevation which are well-known to mimic STEMI and often are a cause of misdiagnosis of STEMI. These are:
Whenever there is doubt regarding whether you are dealing with a STEMI or a mimic, look for reciprocal ST-depression. Most of these will not produce ST-depression (LVH, LBBB, Pacers, and hyperkalemia WILL). The other key intervention is to perform serial ECGs and look for evolving changes, which strongly points to the presence of a true STEMI.
Category: Cardiology
Posted: 5/10/2009 by Amal Mattu, MD
(Updated: 4/23/2024)
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Cardiocerebral resuscitation is a new approach to CPR which has demonstrated improvements in survival and neurological recovery. The main focus is early defibrillation and good compressions with an early dose of EPI, but with a strong de-emphasis on early intubation or bagging. Most patients with sudden cardiac arrest don't need early oxygenation anyway, and the previous emphasis on ventilations only serves to take time and effort away from the important chest compressions. Intubation is deferred for 6-8 minutes after the cardiac arrest in favor of simple passive oxygenation with a non-rebreather.
The bottom line is that when facing a patient in cardiac arrest, the traditional mantra in emergency medicine of "A-B-C" needs to now be changed to emphasize the "C" coming first, second, and third.
Kellum MJ, et al. Cardiocerebral resuscitation improves neurologically intact survival of patients with out-of-hosptial cardiac arrest. Ann Emerg Med 2008;52:244-252.
Category: Cardiology
Keywords: pericarditis, acute myocardial infarction, electrocardiography (PubMed Search)
Posted: 5/3/2009 by Amal Mattu, MD
(Updated: 4/23/2024)
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The distinction between pericarditis and acute MI on ECG can often be difficult. Here are a few things that can help rule in acute MI:
1. If the ST-segment elevation is convex upwards in any leads (e.g. appearing like a tombstone) or flat/horizontal across the top, it very strongly favors AMI. Pericarditis should always demonstrate STE that is concave upwards.
2. If ST-segment depression is present in any lead other than aVR or V1, it strongly favors AMI.
3. If PR-depression is present in multiple leads (not just a 2-3 leads, but in MANY) and PR-elevation > 1-2 mm is present in aVR, it favors pericarditis...but only if rules #1 and #2 above are not present.
Be careful about the HPI and description of chest pain...AMI pain is often described as sharp, and in up to 15% it may be described as sharp, pleuritic, or positional in nature, making you think about pericarditis.
Category: Cardiology
Keywords: dark, chocolate (PubMed Search)
Posted: 4/19/2009 by Amal Mattu, MD
(Updated: 4/23/2024)
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Dark chocolate is being touted more and more as being beneficial to vascular health. It contains polyphenols which has been found to exert anti-oxidant effects and improve endothelial and platelet function. The benefit appears to occur anywhere from 2-8 hours after ingestion of dark chocolate. Unfortunately, the same has not been found true for white chocolate or milk chocolate.
The only caveat is that most of the studies seem to originate in Switzerland and are funded by the Mars Company and Nestle...but who care?? Go ahead and have some dark chocolate every day!
[Dark Chocolate Improves Endothelial and Platelet Function (Hermann F, Heart 2006); Cocoa and Cardiovascular Health (Corti R, Circulation 2009)]
Category: Cardiology
Keywords: pregnancy, acute myocardial infarction, heart disease (PubMed Search)
Posted: 4/12/2009 by Amal Mattu, MD
(Updated: 4/23/2024)
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Category: Cardiology
Keywords: adenosine, medication side effects (PubMed Search)
Posted: 4/5/2009 by Amal Mattu, MD
(Updated: 4/23/2024)
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Adenosine is everyone's favorite drug for SVTs, and it is often even used as a diagnostic maneuver in some tachydysrhythmias of uncertain origin. BUT there are some definite cautions of which we must all be wary:
1. Adenosine CAN convert some types of ventricular tachycardia to sinus rhythm. This "adenosine sensitive VT" is very well reported in the cardiology literature. Don't use adenosine as a diagnostic method of distinguishing VT from SVT (with aberrant conduction).
2. Atrial fibrillation with WPW can sometimes mimic SVT if one doesn't look closely and notice the irregularity. If you misdiagnose these patients as having SVT and give adenosine, you will likely induce VFib. Not good, Mav, not good!
3. Adenosine causes some histamine release (thus the flushing and hot sensation that patients report). That's bad for patients that have reactive airway disease (RAD). Adenosine should be avoided in patients with severe RAD by history (asthma, COPD) or if patients have active wheezing.
4. Concurrent use of adenosine in patients on digoxin or patients that have received digoxin or verapamil has been reported to cause VFib in rare cases.
5. The effects of adenosine appear to be potentiated by dipyridamole and carbamazepine. Lower the dose of adenosine in patients that take these medications.
6. The effects of adenosine are antagonized by methylxanthines such as caffeine or theophylline. You will probably need higher doses of adenosine in these patients.
7. There are rare cases of adenosine inducing atrial fibrillation. I'm not sure what to say about this, except don't be surprised if your patients goes from SVT into atrial fibrillation. Rare, fortunately.
8. And finally...always remember to push adenosine very quickly and follow immediately with saline BOLUS flush (don't just open up the IVF...you must PUSH 10-20cc of NS); and warn your patient that for ~10 seconds they are going to feel like they are about to die while the adenosine takes effect. If you don't warn them, they will never trust you or the drug again.
9. And finally finally...always have your code cart ready to go when you are using potent cardiac drugs such as adenosine. Don't let yourself be unprepared for a side effect.
Bad luck only happens when you are unprepared!
AM
Category: Cardiology
Keywords: jugular venous distension, hypotension (PubMed Search)
Posted: 3/29/2009 by Amal Mattu, MD
(Updated: 4/23/2024)
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Patients with catastrophic cardiovascular conditions often manifest with JVD + hypotension. The DDx for this combination is therefore critical to know:
You can make a diagnosis clinically among these 7 entities by:
Of course if you have bedside U/S, it becomes even easier. ECG is almost always diagnostic with either the large LV MI or RV MI. Wet lungs found in large LV MI, acute MR, and acute AR. Murmur found in MR (systolic) and AR (diastolic).
Category: Cardiology
Keywords: dopamine, dobutamine, cardiogenic shock (PubMed Search)
Posted: 3/22/2009 by Amal Mattu, MD
(Updated: 4/23/2024)
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Traditional teaching for patients with hypotension in the setting of MI and heart failure (i.e. not just RV MI) is to give dobutamine as a first-line agent when the SBP is 80-100, and to use dopamine when the SBP is 70-80s [note that this recommendation is NOT based on good evidence, but primarily on consensus opinion]. The problem with using these medications, especially at higher doses (e.g >10-15 mcg/kg/min) is that they result in excessive alpha-1 adrenergic stimulation that can produce end-organ ischemia.
However, there is some evidence that rather than using high dosages of dobutamine or dopamine, "the deliberate combination of dopamine and dobutamine at a dose of 7.5 mcg/kg/min each was shown to improve hemodynamics and limit important side effects compared with [high dosages of] either agent [alone]."
[Overgaard CB, Dzavik V. Inotropes and vasopressors: review of physiology and clinical use in cardiovascular disease. Circulation 2008;118:1047-1056.]
Category: Cardiology
Keywords: tamponade, pericardial tamponade, intubation, positive pressure ventilation, complications (PubMed Search)
Posted: 3/8/2009 by Amal Mattu, MD
(Updated: 4/23/2024)
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Category: Cardiology
Keywords: electrocardiography, acute myocardial infarction (PubMed Search)
Posted: 3/2/2009 by Amal Mattu, MD
(Updated: 4/23/2024)
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Category: Cardiology
Posted: 2/15/2009 by Amal Mattu, MD
(Updated: 4/23/2024)
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Category: Cardiology
Posted: 2/9/2009 by Amal Mattu, MD
(Updated: 4/23/2024)
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Torsades de pointes and polymorphic ventricular tachycardia are two terms that are often used interchangeably. However, they are not the same!
Torsades is a type of PVT that is characterized by an undulating appearance of the QRS complexes which give the rhythm the appearance of QRS complexes twisting around a central axis. The defining feature of torsades, however, is the presence of a prolonged QTc on the ECG before or after the run of torsades.
Although either rhythm is usually amenable to cardioversion/defibrillation, post-cardioversion treatment is very different between the two. Torsades should be treated with magnesium, whereas PVT can be treated with lidocaine, amio, or procainamide. Beware that treatment of torsades with any of these sodium channel blockers can actually prolong the QTc further and induce intractable torsades.
Category: Cardiology
Keywords: troponin,prognosis (PubMed Search)
Posted: 2/2/2009 by Amal Mattu, MD
(Updated: 4/23/2024)
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Category: Cardiology
Keywords: elderly, geriatric, acute coronary syndrome, electrcardiography (PubMed Search)
Posted: 1/25/2009 by Amal Mattu, MD
(Updated: 4/23/2024)
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Category: Cardiology
Keywords: glycoprotein receptor antagonists, unstable angina, ischemic heart disease, percutaneous coronary intervention (PubMed Search)
Posted: 1/18/2009 by Amal Mattu, MD
(Updated: 4/23/2024)
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The use of a glycoprotein 2b/3a receptor antagonist (often inaccurately referred to as a "G2b3a inhibitor") is considered a Class I intervention for patients with unstable angina/non-STE-MI that are going for percutaneous coronary intervention, according to the ACC/AHA 2007 Guidelines.
The exact timing of the initiation of the G2b3aRA is the subject of some debate, but it is certainly worth discussing with your cardiologist consultant/receiving physician whether they want one of these medications initiated in the ED before taking the patient to the cath. lab, and if so which one of these meds they prefer.
King S, Smith S, Hirschfeld JW, et al. 2007 Focused Update of the ACC/AHA/SCAI 2005 Guideline Update for Percutaneous Coronary Intervention: A Report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Task Force on Practice Guidelines. J Am Coll Cardiol 2008;51:172-209.
Category: Cardiology
Keywords: cardiac arrest, ventilation, oxygenation (PubMed Search)
Posted: 1/11/2009 by Amal Mattu, MD
(Updated: 4/23/2024)
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Category: Cardiology
Keywords: heart failure, congestive heart failure, CHF, diastolic dysfunction (PubMed Search)
Posted: 12/28/2008 by Amal Mattu, MD
(Updated: 4/23/2024)
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Category: Cardiology
Keywords: cardiac arrest, hypoglycemia, hypotension, hypothermia (PubMed Search)
Posted: 12/21/2008 by Amal Mattu, MD
(Updated: 4/23/2024)
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An increasing amount of attention in the literature is now being paid to ways of optimizing care of patients that are post-cardiac arrest. Simple things to focus on for us in the ED are the following:
1. induction of therapeutic hypothermia
2. aggressively manage hypotension and cardiac ischemia
3. treat hyperglycemia aggressively
4. avoid hyperventilation, though maintain adequate oxygenation
Category: Cardiology
Keywords: hyperkalemia, treatment, management, kayexalate (PubMed Search)
Posted: 12/14/2008 by Amal Mattu, MD
(Updated: 4/23/2024)
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