What is atrial flutter? Cardiology Basics
Atrial flutter is a fast and organized arrhythmia originating from the atria. In this way it is different from the commoner atrial fibrillation which is quite fast but irregular rhythm originating from the atria. It shares the risk of thrombus formation in the atria and needs anticoagulants, like atrial fibrillation. Atrial flutter commonly arises from the right atrium. It can also arise from the left atrium sometimes.
Though the atrial rate is typically around 300/minute, the whole of it does not get conducted to the ventricles. The AV node reduces the number of impulses conducted to the ventricles. When there is only 2:...
Source: Cardiophile MD - October 27, 2022 Category: Cardiology Authors: Johnson Francis Tags: General Cardiology Source Type: blogs
What are atrial switch operations? Cardiology Basics
Atrial switch operations were the initial operations developed for the treatment of transposition of great arteries. In transposition of great arteries, the aorta arises from the right ventricle and pulmonary artery from the left ventricle. Normally aorta originates from the left ventricle and pulmonary artery arises from the right ventricle.
Schematic diagram of transposition of great arteries
In transposition of great arteries, systemic venous return is pumped back into the body without being sent to the lungs for oxygenation. Blood returning from the lungs is pumped back into the lungs.
So, survival is impossible unles...
Source: Cardiophile MD - October 27, 2022 Category: Cardiology Authors: Johnson Francis Tags: General Cardiology Source Type: blogs
What is Ebstein ’s anomaly? Cardiology Basics
What is Ebstein’s anomaly? Cardiology Basics
Ebstein’s anomaly is a congenital anomaly of the tricuspid valve, which may manifest soon after birth or more commonly later in life. In Ebstein’s anomaly, two of the three leaflets of tricuspid valve are displaced further into the right ventricle. Usually anterior leaflet is not displaced while the septal and posterior tricuspid leaflets are displaced. So, a part of the right ventricle becomes part of the right atrium functionally and is called atrialized right ventricle. Undisplaced anterior leaflet is elongated.
The tricuspid valve in Ebstein’s anomaly can have severe...
Source: Cardiophile MD - October 26, 2022 Category: Cardiology Authors: Johnson Francis Tags: General Cardiology Source Type: blogs
What are ventricular ectopic beats (VPC)? Cardiology Basics
Ventricular ectopic beats are premature heart beats originating from the ventricles. Normal heart beats originate from the sinus node, situated in the upper part of right atrium. Sinus node is the natural pacemaker of the heart which gives out regular impulses to induce sequential contractions of atria and ventricles.
Ventricular ectopic beats (VEB) are also known by other names like ventricular premature beat (VPB), ventricular premature complex (VPC) and premature ventricular complex (PVC). Ventricular ectopic is the commonest form of cardiac arrhythmia.
In a ventricular ectopic beat, the sequence of activation is diffe...
Source: Cardiophile MD - October 25, 2022 Category: Cardiology Authors: Johnson Francis Tags: General Cardiology Source Type: blogs
What is PT-INR monitoring? Cardiology Basics
INR is short for International Normalized Ratio of Prothrombin Time. It is also called PT-INR. The INR monitoring is used to monitor the dosage of vitamin K antagonists like warfarin. Vitamin K antagonists are used for stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation as well as for deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism. Non vitamin K oral anticoagulants (NOACs), also known as direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) like dabigatran, rivaroxaban and apixaban do not need INR monitoring. Warfarin is routinely used when there is a mechanical prosthetic valve, to prevent valve thrombosis and thromboembolism. As of now, DOACs are not i...
Source: Cardiophile MD - October 25, 2022 Category: Cardiology Authors: Johnson Francis Tags: General Cardiology Source Type: blogs
What is pericardial effusion – Cardiology Basics
What is pericardial effusion – Cardiology Basics
Pericardial effusion is collection of fluid between the visceral and parietal layers of the pericardium. If the amount of pericardial fluid is large or there is a rapid increase in the amount of pericardial fluid, compression of the heart prevents its proper filling. This reduces cardiac output and causes hypotension and is known as cardiac tamponade.
Cardiac tamponade needs urgent pericardial aspiration or surgical drainage if the fluid is very thick. Very thick fluid can be there in purulent bacterial pericarditis. Sometimes it can be a hemopericardium due to bleedin...
Source: Cardiophile MD - October 24, 2022 Category: Cardiology Authors: Johnson Francis Tags: General Cardiology Source Type: blogs
What is a bidirectional Glenn procedure (BDG)? Cardiology Basics
Bidirectional Glenn procedure is done for children with some types of cyanotic congenital heart diseases. The classical Glenn procedure is an end to end anastomosis of the superior vena cava to the right pulmonary artery so that the superior vena caval venous blood does not reach the left pulmonary artery. Bidirectional Glenn (BDG) procedure is an end to side anastomosis of superior vena cava to the right pulmonary artery. Main pulmonary artery is then divided and sutured. BDG helps flow into both pulmonary arteries. BDG is usually followed later by a Fontan repair.
BDG is performed in patients with anatomical or fu...
Source: Cardiophile MD - October 24, 2022 Category: Cardiology Authors: Johnson Francis Tags: General Cardiology Source Type: blogs
Can dark chocolates keep heart disease away? Cardiology Basics
A study published in ‘Circulation’ – the flagship journal of American Heart Association, suggested that eating dark chocolate can decrease your risk for myocardial infarction.
Myocardial infarction is usually due to a coronary obstruction, though there are other varieties as well, according to the Universal Definition of Myocardial Infarction. High oxidative stress and limited availability of antioxidants can cause endothelial damage in the arteries, leading to increased chances for a thrombosis.
Dark chocolates (which contain 70% cocoa) have lots of flavonoids – potent antioxidants which helps to overcome the oxi...
Source: Cardiophile MD - October 24, 2022 Category: Cardiology Authors: Johnson Francis Tags: General Cardiology Source Type: blogs
What is an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD)? Cardiology Basics
Implantable cardioverter defibrillator or ICD is a cardiac implantable electronic device or CIED. The device is implanted subcutaneously under local anaesthesia, usually below the left clavicle. The electrodes from the device are introduced into the right sided cardiac chambers through a subclavian vein puncture. The ICD senses and analyzes heart rhythm continuously. It can detect life threatening ventricular arrhythmias and treat them electrically.
If a ventricular tachycardia is detected, the ICD tries to overdrive it by fast pacing. If it does not suppress the ventricular tachycardia, the ICD delivers a shock through i...
Source: Cardiophile MD - October 23, 2022 Category: Cardiology Authors: Johnson Francis Tags: General Cardiology Source Type: blogs
Balloon aortic valvuloplasty – Cardiology Basics
Balloon aortic valvuloplasty – Cardiology Basics
Balloon aortic valvuloplasty is enlargement of a narrowed aortic valve using balloon catheters. It is also known as balloon aortic valvotomy.
Balloon aortic valvuloplasty has significant risks and lesser benefits compared other procedures for symptomatic severe aortic stenosis like surgical valve replacement and transcatheter aortic valve implantation or TAVI. Hence it is often considered as a bridge treatment or palliative treatment.
Three important scenarios in which balloon aortic valvuloplasty or BAV is considered are: Bridge to decision, bridge to planned treatmen...
Source: Cardiophile MD - October 22, 2022 Category: Cardiology Authors: Johnson Francis Tags: General Cardiology Source Type: blogs
What is white coat syndrome? Cardiology Basics
Some persons have higher blood pressure when recorded in the hospital setting than when recorded at home. This has been called white coat syndrome, white coat effect and white coat hypertension. White coat syndrome is thought to be due to the anxiety of the person in the hospital setting elevating the blood pressure. The name has its origin from the white coat worn by medical personal at the hospital.
Though it was thought to be a benign condition, now there is a view that they also have some risk of cardiovascular disease like those with persistent high blood pressure both at home and hospital. White coat syndrome is ide...
Source: Cardiophile MD - October 22, 2022 Category: Cardiology Authors: Johnson Francis Tags: General Cardiology Source Type: blogs
What is commotio cordis? Cardiology Basics
Sometimes a player drops down dead after being accidentally hit by a ball or another player. This situation which can occur in any contact sports is known as commotio cordis. The sudden impact on the chest causes cardiac arrest due to ventricular fibrillation.
The intensity of the blow is not sufficient to cause any damage to the chest wall. No structural damage is noted in the heart as well. If there is a contusion of the heart, it will be called contusio cordis. Contusio cordis is associated with damage to the chest wall as well.
The rapid rise in left ventricular pressure following the impact possibly results in mechan...
Source: Cardiophile MD - October 22, 2022 Category: Cardiology Authors: Johnson Francis Tags: General Cardiology Source Type: blogs
Rheumatic heart disease – Cardiology Basics
Rheumatic heart disease – Cardiology Basics
Rheumatic heart disease is a group diseases which occur secondary to heart valve damage from rheumatic fever. Rheumatic fever is a disease in which antibodies produced by the body against streptococci cross react with different tissues in the body, especially the heart.
Group A beta hemolytic streptococci causing sore throat are involved in the pathogenesis of rheumatic fever. Most of the long term damage following rheumatic fever is caused by damage to heart valves . Initial manifestation of rheumatic fever is with polyarthritis, usually of the large joints.
But it does no...
Source: Cardiophile MD - October 22, 2022 Category: Cardiology Authors: Johnson Francis Tags: General Cardiology Source Type: blogs
What is TAVI? Cardiology Basics
TAVI is short form for transcatheter aortic valve implantation. It is also called TAVR (transcatheter aortic valve replacement). Surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) was the only option in symptomatic severe aortic stenosis earlier. Now we have the option of implanting a valve without surgery, using artificial valves mounted on balloon catheters. Approaches to TAVI can be transapical, through the left ventricular apex, transfemoral, through the femoral artery or transcarotid, through the carotid artery.
Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI)
When TAVI was initially introduced, it was done only for those at ver...
Source: Cardiophile MD - October 22, 2022 Category: Cardiology Authors: Johnson Francis Tags: General Cardiology Source Type: blogs
Heart disease in pregnancy? Cardiology Basics
Changes in blood circulation during pregnancy and labour can adversely affect many of the significant heart diseases. Increase in blood volume and heart rate are the important factors during pregnancy. Increase in blood volume is needed to give enough nutrients and oxygen to the growing baby. Nutrients and oxygen are transferred to the baby through the placenta during pregnancy, though there is no actual mixing of the blood of the baby and mother. In general, obstructive lesions and complex cyanotic congenital heart diseases have high risk in pregnancy.
Obstructive lesions like severe aortic stenosis and mitral stenosis a...
Source: Cardiophile MD - October 21, 2022 Category: Cardiology Authors: Johnson Francis Tags: General Cardiology Source Type: blogs
