CVS Made Simple For NLE NRE Step 1

1. Cardiac Murmur

ConditionMurmur Type
Mitral Stenosis (MS)Mid-diastolic murmur
Mitral Regurgitation (MR)Holosystolic murmur
Aortic Stenosis (AS)Ejection systolic murmur
Aortic Regurgitation (AR)Early diastolic murmur
Patent Ductus Arteriosus (PDA)Machinery murmur (continuous)
Semilunar Valves (Aortic + Pulmonic)S for Stenosis = Systolic

2. Rheumatic Fever

Typical Case: Young female, h/o sore throat (1 week ago) → joint pain, chest pain, subcutaneous nodules.

Diagnosis: Jones Criteria (major + minor).

3. Infective Endocarditis

Typical Case: High-grade fever + new-onset murmur.

SituationCommon Cause
After Dental procedureStrep viridans
Damaged valveStrep viridans
Native valve (healthy)Staph aureus
Skin infection sourceStaph aureus
Prosthetic valveStaph epidermidis
Colon cancer associationStrep bovis (S. gallolyticus)

Diagnosis

Echocardiography (vegetations, valve damage).

4. Coronary Artery Disease (CAD)

Myocardial Ischemia

  • Without necrosisAngina
  • With necrosisMyocardial Infarction (MI)
    • Cardiac markers
    • Coagulation necrosis on pathology
MarkerKey Point
Troponin IMost specific for MI
Troponin TMost sensitive for MI
CK-MBUsed to detect reinfarction (because it rises & falls quickly)

1. ECG Elevation & MI Localization

ECG LeadsMI LocationArtery Involved
V1 – V4Anteroseptal wall MILAD (branch of LCA)
II, III, aVFInferior wall MIRCA (marginal artery)
V5, V6, aVLLateral wall MILCX (branch of LCA)

Complication

  • Post-MI autoimmune pericarditis
    • Occurs ~2 weeks after MI
    • Known as Dressler Syndrome

2.Heart Block (AV Block)

TypeECG FindingKey Point
1st DegreeConstant prolonged PR interval, no missed beatsBenign
2nd Degree – Mobitz I (Wenckebach)Progressive ↑ PR → then 1 dropped QRSUsually benign
2nd Degree – Mobitz IIConstant PR, sudden dropped QRSRisk of progression → Pacemaker needed
3rd Degree (Complete Block)Atria & ventricles beat independently (P waves unrelated to QRS)Pacemaker required

Association

Lyme disease → Can cause Complete Heart Block

3. Cardiomyopathy

1. Dilated Cardiomyopathy (90%)

  • Causes: Beriberi, Doxorubicin, Trastuzumab
  • Pathology: Systolic failure
  • Heart sound: S3

2. Hypertrophic (HOCM, 5–7%)

  • Inheritance: Autosomal dominant
  • Mutation: β-myosin heavy chain
  • Presentation: Young athlete, sudden death
  • Pathology: Diastolic failure
  • Heart sound: S4

3. Restrictive (2–3%)

  • Causes: Hemochromatosis, Amyloidosis

4. Hypertension

  • Definition: SBP > 140 mmHg or DBP > 90 mmHg
  • Primary (Essential) HTN = Idiopathic, 95%
  • Secondary HTN = Identifiable cause, 5%

1. Hypertensive Crisis

  • Urgency → No end-organ damage
  • Emergency → End-organ damage present

2. Renin-Angiotensin

  • Angiotensin I → Angiotensin II by ACE
  • ACE inhibitors (-pril)
    • Side effects: Cough, Angioedema
DrugKey Point
EsmololShort-acting, used in OT
MetoprololMay cause dyslipidemia
PropranololContraindicated in asthma
Labetalol, CarvedilolBlock α + β

5. Anti-arrhythmic Drugs

1. Class I – Na⁺ Channel Blockers

SubclassDrugsKey Points / Side Effects
1AProcainamide, Quinidine, DisopyramideSLE-like symptoms (Procainamide) – Cinchonism (Quinidine: tinnitus, dizziness) – Can worsen HF
1BPhenytoin, LidocaineBest in MI (post-arrhythmia) – Contraindicated in other settings
1CPropafenone, Flecainide– Potent, ↑ pro-arrhythmic risk

2. Class II – β Blockers

  • Reduce sympathetic activity
  • Examples: Metoprolol, Propranolol, Esmolol

3. Class III – K⁺ Channel Blockers

Mnemonic: AIDS

  • Amiodarone
  • Ibutilide
  • Dofetilide
  • Sotalol

4. Class IV – Ca²⁺ Channel Blockers

Verapamil

5. Other Drugs / Notes

  • Diphenhydramine → Can cause Angioedema
  • Statins
    • Inhibit HMG-CoA reductase → ↓ Mevalonate → ↓ Cholesterol
    • Side effect: Hepatotoxicity
  • HMG-CoA synthase → Produces Ketone bodies

6. Congestive Heart Failure (CHF)

  • Normal cardiac output: ~5 L/min

Right-Sided HF

  • Raised JVP
  • Hepatosplenomegaly
  • Ascites

Left-Sided HF

  • SOB, Dyspnea, Cough
  • On auscultation: Crackles / Rales
  • Treatment: Diuretics (Lasix = Furosemide)

7. Cardiac Tamponade

  • Definition: Impaired diastolic filling of the heart due to pericardial fluid compression
  • Cause: Can occur as a complication of MI

Clinical Features (Beck’s Triad)

  1. Hypotension
  2. Muffled heart sounds
  3. Raised JVP

Treatment

  • Pericardiocentesis

8. Heart Sounds

S1 → Closure of AV valves (Mitral + Tricuspid)

S2 → Closure of Semilunar valves (Aortic + Pulmonic)

S3 (Ventricular Gallop)

  • Normal: Children, Athletes, Pregnancy
  • Abnormal: Dilated cardiomyopathy (↑ LV filling pressure)
  • Represents: Rapid filling phase (LV ← LA) → ventricular vibration (“atrial kick”)

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