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
How are stroke and heart disease related? Cardiology Basics
Ischemic stroke is often due to sudden obstruction to a cerebral artery which usually results in paralysis. Hemorrhage stroke is due a bleed from a cerebral vessel and deemed to be more dangerous than ischemic stroke.
Stroke and heart disease are linked together in various ways. In general, risk factors for stroke and ischemic heart disease are similar. Ischemic strokes can sometimes occur simultaneously with an acute myocardial infarction.
Stroke can occur after a myocardial infarction as well. Myocardial infarction can cause damage to a region of endocardium over the infarct. This region can be a nidus for the formation...
Source: Cardiophile MD - October 21, 2022 Category: Cardiology Authors: Johnson Francis Tags: General Cardiology Source Type: blogs
Heart failure in chronic kidney disease – Cardiology Basics
Heart failure in chronic kidney disease – Cardiology Basics
Prevalence of both heart failure and chronic kidney disease (CKD) are increasing as the population is aging globally. Hence heart failure in chronic kidney disease is seen more often. Presence of CKD in heart failure increases morbidity and mortality. Though there is increasing use of effective medications and special devices like cardiac resynchronization therapy in heart failure patients in general, those with CKD have not been benefited well.
CKD is defined as abnormalities of kidney structure or function, present for >3 months, with implications for h...
Source: Cardiophile MD - October 21, 2022 Category: Cardiology Authors: Johnson Francis Tags: General Cardiology Source Type: blogs
What is cardiogenic shock? Cardiology Basics
When the heart is not able to pump enough blood for perfusing the vital organs and the blood pressure falls, it is known as cardiogenic shock. Most important cause of cardiogenic shock is an acute myocardial infarction. Cardiogenic shock can also occur in other conditions like a fulminant myocarditis. In case of myocardial infarction, it is more likely to occur in those who are older, having multivessel coronary artery disease, and in those with a previous myocardial infarction. Cardiogenic shock is a potentially life threatening condition and needs urgent treatment. Even with treatment about half of those with cardiogeni...
Source: Cardiophile MD - October 20, 2022 Category: Cardiology Authors: Johnson Francis Tags: General Cardiology Source Type: blogs
What is the difference between dextrocardia and dextroposition? Cardiology Basics
Dextrocardia means heart is situated in the right hemithorax instead of the left, as a congenital anomaly. In dextroposition, the heart is either pushed to the right or pulled to the right by another abnormality, usually in the lungs. Heart can be pulled to the right when the right lung is collapsed due to some reason, leaving more space on the right side of the chest. Here we have two X-rays illustrating dextrocardia and dextroposition. First one is true dextrocardia while the second is dextroposition due to large pleural effusion on the left side.
In the first one, along with the heart, other viscera have also switched ...
Source: Cardiophile MD - October 20, 2022 Category: Cardiology Authors: Johnson Francis Tags: General Cardiology Source Type: blogs
What is Eisenmenger syndrome? Cardiology Basics
Eisenmenger syndrome is a late complication of congenital heart diseases with large left to right shunts. Fortunately, it is rare now-a-days because most conditions which can cause Eisenmenger syndrome later, are detected by neonatal screening and treated early so that this complication does not develop later. Eisenmenger syndrome is a condition in which long standing high pulmonary blood flow leads to irreversible pulmonary hypertension with reversal of shunt. Right to left shunt causes reduced systemic oxygen saturation with cyanosis.
This is an echocardiogram showing a left to right shunt from the left ventricle to the...
Source: Cardiophile MD - October 20, 2022 Category: Cardiology Authors: Johnson Francis Tags: General Cardiology Source Type: blogs
What is a wearable cardioverter defibrillator (WCD)? Cardiology Basics
Wearable cardioverter defibrillator (WCD) is a device which is worn on a vest, monitors the heart rhythm continuously and delivers a defibrillator shock in case of life threatening ventricular arrhythmias. Implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) is a similar device which is implanted subcutaneously for long term use. WCD is meant for temporary use for those who have a high risk of life threatening ventricular arrhythmias but are ineligible for an ICD implantation as per the guidelines.
WCD has patch electrodes for giving the shocks and a monitoring system built-in into a vest while the defibrillator with battery is w...
Source: Cardiophile MD - October 20, 2022 Category: Cardiology Authors: Johnson Francis Tags: General Cardiology Source Type: blogs
What is the difference between pulsed wave and continuous wave doppler?
In pulsed wave Doppler, same piezoelectric crystal is used to transmit and receive the echo from the sample volume. Hence the signals are sent out in pulses and the intervals between the pulses are used to receive the echoes. In continuous wave Doppler, one piezoelectric crystal transmits continuously and another one receives continuously. As the transmission and reception are continuous, it is not possible to find out the depth from which the return signals are received. At the same time continuous wave Doppler can analyze higher velocities while pulsed wave Doppler can analyze only lower velocities.
In case of pulsed Do...
Source: Cardiophile MD - October 20, 2022 Category: Cardiology Authors: Johnson Francis Tags: General Cardiology Source Type: blogs
What is ambulatory blood pressure monitoring? Cardiology Basics
Usually blood pressure is measured with two or three recordings in the clinic or at the bedside. Blood pressure is known to fluctuate throughout the day depending on activities and stress. So, a recording from the clinic may not reflect the average blood pressure during a 24 hour period. Studies have shown that average daily blood pressure is more important than single recordings in deciding the target organ damage due to hypertension.
In ambulatory blood pressure monitoring, a blood pressure cuff applied to the arm is automatically inflated and deflated periodically by a battery driven device attached to the belt. Record...
Source: Cardiophile MD - October 19, 2022 Category: Cardiology Authors: Johnson Francis Tags: General Cardiology Source Type: blogs
What is high altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE)? Cardiology Basics
High altitude pulmonary edema is pulmonary edema which occurs on rapid ascent to high altitudes. It is a potentially life threatening condition and is a severe form of mountain sickness. Severe breathlessness with fall of oxygen level in the blood occurs in this condition. Cyanosis may be noted. The best way to prevent it is to ascend gradually, taking a few days to climb to 3000 meters. After that climb only very slowly, only about 300 to 500 meters a day. The risk is more if your usual residence is near sea level so that you are not acclimatized to high altitude at all. Previous episode increases your risk of a recurren...
Source: Cardiophile MD - October 19, 2022 Category: Cardiology Authors: Johnson Francis Tags: General Cardiology Source Type: blogs
What is TAPVC? Cardiology Basics
TAPVC stands for total anomalous pulmonary venous connection. It is also known as TAPVD or total anomalous pulmonary venous drainage. Normally, pulmonary veins join the left atrium. When it drains to the right atrium through one of the blood vessels leading to the right atrium, it is known as TAPVC. If only some of the four pulmonary veins join the right side of the heart, then it is called PAPVC or partial anomalous pulmonary venous connection.
When all the pulmonary veins join the right side of the heart instead of the left side, an atrial septal defect (ASD) is needed to maintain life. Otherwise body will not get any o...
Source: Cardiophile MD - October 19, 2022 Category: Cardiology Authors: Johnson Francis Tags: General Cardiology Source Type: blogs
Pulmonary stenosis – Cardiology Basics
Pulmonary stenosis – Cardiology Basics
Pulmonary stenosis is most often congenital, though occasionally it can occur in carcinoid syndrome and related disorders. Dysplastic pulmonary valve occurs in Noonan’s syndrome. Pulmonary stenosis increases the workload of the right ventricle, which gets hypertrophied in an attempt to overcome the obstruction. Hypertrophied right ventricle becomes less compliant, increasing its filling pressure.
Decrease in right ventricular compliance increases right atrial pressure. This will be more when the right ventricle fails ultimately. Forceful right atrial contraction produces a...
Source: Cardiophile MD - October 18, 2022 Category: Cardiology Authors: Johnson Francis Tags: General Cardiology Source Type: blogs
How is pulmonary embolism treated? Cardiology Basics
Pulmonary embolism is obstruction of pulmonary arteries due to emboli migrating from other parts of the body. It is a potentially life threatening condition if a major branch or multiple branches are obstructed. More emboli can travel to the lungs from the original source and hence pulmonary embolism may worsen later even if the initial episode involves only a small portion of the lungs. So, it is important to treat pulmonary embolism even if it is mild. Treatment options will depend on the severity of the situation.
Initial treatment will be with parenteral anticoagulants like heparin or low molecular weight heparin. Aft...
Source: Cardiophile MD - October 18, 2022 Category: Cardiology Authors: Johnson Francis Tags: General Cardiology Source Type: blogs
