How does cervical rib mimic coronary artery disease? Cardiology Basics
Cervical rib is an accessory rib in addition to the 12 pairs of thoracic ribs, which can occur in some individuals. Cervical rib is an abnormal rib arising from the vertebra of the neck. It can press on nerve roots coming out of the neck from the spinal cord and cause symptoms in the dermatomal region.
If a nerve root from the same spinal segment which also supplies the heart gets compressed, the pain produced will be similar in location. But the pain due to nerve root compression will have different characteristics from that of pain originating from the heart. Pain due to myocardial ischemia is usually produced by ...
Source: Cardiophile MD - October 8, 2022 Category: Cardiology Authors: Johnson Francis Tags: General Cardiology Source Type: blogs
Why do they call LAD a widow maker? Cardiology Basics
LAD is short form for left anterior descending coronary artery. LAD is usually the largest branch of the left main coronary artery which supplies the major portion of the left ventricle. It supplies major portion of the interventricular septum which mostly constitutes the anterior wall of the left ventricle as seen on echocardiography. Coronary angiogram still picture shows a total occlusion of LAD. Coronary angiograms are obtained by injecting radiocontrast medication into the coronary artery and obtaining continuous X-ray imaging in the cardiac catheterization laboratory.
Occlusion of proximal LAD before its first septa...
Source: Cardiophile MD - October 7, 2022 Category: Cardiology Authors: Johnson Francis Tags: General Cardiology Source Type: blogs
Is the blood pressure same on both arms? Cardiology Basics
Guidelines on hypertension by medical societies generally recommend measurement of blood pressure in both arms in the initial visit. They also suggest that the arm with higher blood pressure recording should be used to record blood pressure in subsequent visits. It is often mentioned that there is a small difference in the blood pressure between the arms and usually it is the right arm blood pressure which is higher.
The origin of brachiocephalic artery is in line with the ascending aorta. It is presumed that the force of ejection of the left ventricle is conveyed more to the right subclavian artery for this reason.
When ...
Source: Cardiophile MD - October 6, 2022 Category: Cardiology Authors: Johnson Francis Tags: General Cardiology Source Type: blogs
What is coronary calcium scoring? Cardiology Basics
Coronary calcium scoring is done from a plain multidetector computed tomography (CT) scan. MDCT produces images of coronary arteries in multiple thin slices. Calcium deposits in plaques within the coronary arteries can be found from these images. Calcium deposits occur within atherosclerotic lesions inside the coronary arteries. Some of these plaques can rupture later and lead to clot formation and total occlusion causing acute myocardial infarction.
Coronary calcium scoring can be done as an outpatient test from the X-ray department. As no contrast medium is injected, there is no risk of allergic reactions unlike CT coro...
Source: Cardiophile MD - October 6, 2022 Category: Cardiology Authors: Johnson Francis Tags: General Cardiology Source Type: blogs
What is a silent myocardial infarction? Cardiology Basics
Silent myocardial infarction is one in which the person does not know that myocardial infarction has occurred. This can be because chest pain was not felt or was only mild. It can also be missed if the person was under sedation or under general anaesthesia when it occurred. In earlier community studies like the Framingham Heart Study, in which ECG was recorded every two years, it was shown that up to one fourth of the previous myocardial infarctions detected on ECG were silent.
Silent myocardial infarctions are more likely in those with diabetes mellitus. Long standing diabetes affects the nerves of the heart so that...
Source: Cardiophile MD - October 6, 2022 Category: Cardiology Authors: Johnson Francis Tags: General Cardiology Source Type: blogs
