Sudden Cardiac Death
Sudden Cardiac Death Andrew E. Darby, MDJohn P. DiMarco, MD, PhD ESSENTIALS OF DIAGNOSIS Unexpected death occurring within an hour of onset of symptoms. Primary electrical mechanisms include ventricular…
Myocarditis
Myocarditis Michael H. Crawford, MD ESSENTIALS OF DIAGNOSIS New congestive heart failure with a history of an antecedent viral syndrome. Elevated cardiac biomarkers. Electrocardiogram shows sinus tachycardia, nonspecific ST-T…
Atrial Fibrillation
Atrial Fibrillation Melvin M. Scheinman, MD ESSENTIALS OF DIAGNOSIS Irregularly irregular ventricular rhythm. Absence of P waves on the electrocardiogram. General Considerations Atrial fibrillation, the most common sustained…
Mitral Regurgitation
Mitral Regurgitation Michael H. Crawford, MD ESSENTIALS OF DIAGNOSIS Dyspnea or orthopnea. Characteristic apical systolic murmur. Color-flow Doppler echocardiographic evidence of systolic regurgitation into the left atrium. General…
Cardiogenic Shock
Cardiogenic Shock Edward McNulty, MD ESSENTIALS OF DIAGNOSIS Tissue hypoperfusion: depressed mental status, cool extremities, decreased urinary output. Hypotension: systolic blood pressure < 90 mm Hg. Reduced cardiac output:…
Lipid Disorders
Lipid Disorders Mohamad Alkhouli, MDHarish Jarrett, MBChBSara Sirna, MD ESSENTIALS OF DIAGNOSIS Elevated plasma levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, non–high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, lipoprotein(a), and apolipoprotein (apo) B-100. Reduced plasma…
Systemic Hypertension
Systemic Hypertension Wanpen Vongpatanasin, MD ESSENTIALS OF DIAGNOSIS Prehypertension: systolic pressure of 120–139 mm Hg or diastolic pressure of 80–89 mm Hg. Stage 1 hypertension: systolic pressure of 140–159…
Chronic Ischemic Heart Disease
Chronic Ischemic Heart Disease Michael H. Crawford, MD ESSENTIALS OF DIAGNOSIS Typical exertional angina pectoris or its equivalents. Objective evidence of myocardial ischemia by electrocardiography, myocardial imaging, or myocardial…
Unstable Angina/Non-ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction
Unstable Angina/Non-ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction Kuang-YuhChyu, MD, PhD Prediman K. Shah, MD General Considerations A. Background Unstable angina and non-ST elevation myocardial infarction (USA/NSTEMI) are a part of the wide…
