Download Cardiac Pathology and Diagnosis

Cardiac Pathology and Diagnosis
Unit 4
Cardiorespiratory Med Terminology
Congestive Heart Failure
Reduction in the effective contractile force of the LV,
which results in a decreased amount of blood due to a
weakness in the myocardium. The signs and symptoms
which students usually present with are weakness,
breathlessness, and edema.
Diagnostic Tests may include (but are not limited to) (1)
echocardiography; (2) cardiac catherterization; (3)
electrocardiography; and (4) stress testing (treadmill).
Atherosclerosis (of the aorta in photo)
This is the most common form of arteriosclerosis. This
pathology is caused by the deposition of fatty
yellowish plaques of cholesterol on the inner walls
of the arteries. This photo features the plaque
buildup on the walls of the aorta.
Diagnosis may be performed by cardiac
catheterization (cath lab) by an invasive cardiologist
or intervention radiologist. Angiography may also
aid in the diagnosis of atherosclerosis.
Atherosclerosis
The damage from atherosclerosis comes in two main stages:
1. As plaque deposits and builds on the walls of the arteries.
Platlets and fibrin deposit on the outside of a plaquemaking the lumen of a vessel very narrow.
2. A thrombus forms in the very narrow space of the lumeneventually causing a complete blockage.
Myocardial Infarction
Partial or complete occlusion or obstruction of one or more of
the vessels of the coronary circulation. Patients refer a
strong squeezing pain or heavy pressure in the middle of
the chest (angina pectoris). This photo shows the
infiltration of neutrophils due to the destruction of
myocardium-because of its rapid onset-this condition would
be further classified as an acute MI.
Myocardial Infarction
• A myocardial infarction may be identified clinically
by several of the following tests:
• (1) Cardiac enzymes; (2) Serum lippoprotein level;
(3) Cardiac scan; (4) Electrocardiograph.
Coronary artery disease
Insufficient blood supply to the myocardium due to an
obstruction of one or multiple coronary vessels. This
condition may start from atherosclerosis and may progress
to a myocardial infarction.
Diagnostic procedures which could be used to help in the
diagnosis of this condition would include;
(1) Doppler ultrasonography; (2) echocardiography; and
cardiac catherization; and (3) electrocardiography.
Arrthymia and Fibrillation
Arrhythmia- Any irregular heartbeat or action. There are
many different forms of this and a rang of severities
which this may present as.
EKG is a traditional means of confirming this condition.
Fibrillation is a severe form of an arrhythmia resulting
in a complete dissociation of electrical impulse
conduction between the atria and ventricles-the
ventricle are ineffective in ejecting sufficient blood out
due to chaotic, asynchronous contractile activity.
Pericarditis
Pericarditis is characterized by a fibrinous inflamation
of the two-layer pericardial sac which surrounds the
heart.
Myocarditis is the inflamation of the muscle layer of
the heart.
Confirmation of this condition can be done by biopsy
and microscopic examination by a pathologist.
Tetrology of Fallot
• Congenital defect of the heart which consists of the
following abnomalities:
• (1) Ventricular septal defect- an opening in the ventricular
septum seperating the R and L ventricles.
• (2) Pulmonary obstruction-RV outflow obstruction. This
results in right ventricular hypertrophy.
• (3) An overiding aorta-the aorta id dhifted to the right so
that it lies over the ventricular septal defect.
• As the text points out this requires immediate surgey to
correct this condition.