Atrial Fibrillation
Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common sustained dysrhythmia and is characterised by disorganised atrial electrical activity and contraction resulting in an "irregularly irregular" ventricular response ("fibrillation waves")
Category Cardiology
Arrhythmias
An approach to arrhythmia, causes, classification and factors contributing to arrhythmogenesis
Arrhythmia Literature Summaries
Arrhythmia Literature Summaries
Afterload
Reviewed and revised 12/6/12 Afterload = left ventricular wall tension required to overcome resistance to ejection (impedance to ejection of blood from the heart into the arterial circulation). developed as ventricular muscle fibres shorten during isovolumetric contraction & ejection phases…
Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI)
Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is the preferred emergency reperfusion strategy in most cases of ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI)
Acute Coronary Syndromes
Coronary artery disease accounts for > 30% of death in West and presents acutely as acute coronary syndromes. Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is a catch all term that refers to ischemic symptoms resulting from acute coronary occlusion
Acute Coronary Syndromes Literature Summaries
Acute Coronary Syndromes (ACS) Literature Summaries
Open Chest Management and Delayed Sternal Closure
Open Chest Management (OCM) and Delayed Sternal Closure (DSC) is used following 1-4% of surgical procedures involving cardiotomy in adults, and more commonly in paediatrics
AHA/ACC Guidelines (2007)
AHA/ACC Guidelines (2007) – Perioperative Cardiovascular Evaluation of the Patient undergoing Non-cardiac Surgery Take Home Message = if assessment and evaluation not indicated irrespective of perioperative context then just crack on (its all about symptoms). 3 factors involved in risk…
Emergent Valve Disorders
Emergent Valve Disorders: regurgitation most common; acute or acute on chronic valve dysfunction; acute on chronic often precipitated by increase in metabolic or haemodynamic requirements (sepsis, bleeding, pregnancy).
Aortic Regurgitation
Aortic regurgitation is diastolic reflux of blood from aorta to LV due to malposition of the aortic cusps.
Contractility
Contractility = the change in force generated independent of preload. Inotropy and contractility are essential synonymous — inotropes are agents that increase contractility.