Cardiovascular System Mnemonics

Cardiovascular System Mnemonics: Unlock Heart and Vascular Knowledge

A

Aortic regurgitation causes: CREAM

• Congenital
• Rheumatic damage
• Endocarditis
• Aortic dissection/ Aortic root dilatation
• Marfan’s
  • Author: Jamal Khan Birmingham University Medical Student

Aortic stenosis characteristics Hi Yield: SAD

• Syncope
• Angina
• Dyspnoea
  • Reference: http://medicalmnemonics.com/

Apex beat abnormalities found on palpation, causes of impalpable: HILT

• Heaving
• Impalpable
• Laterally displaced
• Thrusting/ Tapping
• ­ If it is impalpable, causes are COPD:
• COPD
• Obesity
• Pleural, Pericardial effusion
• Dextrocardia
  • Author: Sushant Varma Medical student, University of Sheffield, UK

Apex beat differential for impalpable apex beat: DOPES

• Dextrocardia
• Obesity
• Pericarditis/ Pericardial tamponade/ Pneumothorax
• Emphysema
• Sinus inversus/ Student incompetence/ Scoliosis/ Skeletal abnormalities (eg pectus excavatum)
• Fiona Hayes and Moses Lee Tong Chsia and Dalton Boyo UWCM, Cardiff, UK and Not Specified and Medical Student
  • Reference: http://medicalmnemonics.com/

Atrial fibrillation causes: A S#!T

• Alcohol
• Stenosis (mitral valve)
• Hypertension Infarction/ Ischaemia
• Thyrotoxicosis
  • Reference: http://medicalmnemonics.com/

Atrial fibrillation causes: PIRATES

• Pulmonary: PE, COPD
• Iatrogenic
• Rheumatic heart: mirtral regurgitation
• Atherosclerotic: MI, CAD
• Thyroid: hyperthyroid
• Endocarditis
• Sick sinus syndrome
  • Reference: http://medicalmnemonics.com/

Atrial fibrillation: management: ABCD

• Anti -coagulate
• Beta -block to control rate
• Cardiovert
• Digoxin
  • Reference: http://medicalmnemonics.com/

B

Beck’s triad (cardiac tamponade): 3 D’s

• Distant heart sounds
• Distended jugular veins
• Decreased arterial pressure
  • Reference: http://medicalmnemonics.com/

Betablockers: cardioselective betablockers: “Betablockers Acting Exclusively At Myocardium”

• Betaxolol
• Acebutelol
• Esmolol
• Atenolol
• Metoprolol
  • Author: Diljot Singh Bedi GMCH Chandigarh, India

C

CHF: causes of exacerbation: FAILURE

• Forgot medication
• Arrhythmia/ Anaemia
• Ischemia/ Infarction/ Infection
• Lifestyle: taken too much salt
• Upregulation of CO: pregnancy, hyperthyroidism
• Renal failure
• Embolism: pulmonary
  • Author: Lau Yue Young Geoffrey

Coronary artery bypass graft indications: DUST

• Depressed ventricular function
• Unstable angina
• Stenosis of the left main stem
• Triple vessel disease
  • Author: Sushant Varma Medical student, University of Sheffield, UK

Coronary artery bypass graft indications: DUST

• Depressed ventricular function
• Unstable angina
• Stenosis of the left main stem
• Triple vessel disease
  • Author: Sushant Varma University of Sheffield, UK

D

Depressed ST-segment causes: DEPRESSED ST

• Drooping valve (MVP)
• Enlargement of LV with strain
• Potassium loss (hypokalemia)
• Reciprocal ST- depression (in I/W AMI)
• Embolism in lungs (pulmonary embolism)
• Subendocardial ischemia
• Subendocardial infarct
• Encephalon haemorrhage (intracranial haemorrhage)
• Dilated cardiomyopathy
• Shock
• Toxicity of digitalis, quinidine
  • Author: Dr. Sonali V

E

ECG: left vs. right bundle block: “WiLLiaM MaRRoW”

• W pattern in V1-V2 and M pattern in V3-V6 is Left bundle block.
• M pattern in V1-V2 and W in V3-V6 is Right bundle block.
• ­ Note: consider bundle branch blocks when QRS complex is wide.
  • Reference: http://medicalmnemonics.com/

Exercise ramp ECG contraindications: RAMP

• Recent MI
• Aortic stenosis
• MI in the last 7 days
• Pulmonary hypertension
  • Author: Sushant Varma University of Sheffield, UK

H

Heart compensatory mechanisms that ‘save’ organ blood flow during shock: “Heart SAVER”

• Symphatoadrenal system
• Atrial natriuretic factor
• Vasopressin
• Endogenous digitalis-like factor
• Renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system
• ­ In all 5, system is activated/factor is released
  • Reference: http://medicalmnemonics.com/

J

JVP wave form: ASK ME

• Atrial contraction
• Systole (ventricular contraction)
• Klosure (closure) of tricusps, so atrial filling
• Maximal atrial filling
• Emptying of atrium
  • Author: Hafizur Rahman Manchester Royal Infirmary, Manc Medical School

M

MI basic management BOOMAR:

• Bed rest
• Oxygen
• Opiate
• Monitor
• Anticoagulate
• Reduce clot size
  • Reference: http://medicalmnemonics.com/

MI signs and symptoms: PULSE

• Persistent chest pains
• Upset stomach
• Lightheadedness
• Shortness of breath
• Excessive sweating
  • Author: Sara Nemetz

MI therapeutic treatment: “O BATMAN!”

• Oxygen
• Beta blocker
• ASA
• Thrombolytics (eg heparin)
• Morphine
• Ace prn
• Nitroglycerin
  • Author: Kristy Thomas, PA-C Mesquite Medical Associates, Mesquite, N

MI: therapeutic treatment: MONAH

• Morphine
• Oxygen
• Nitrogen
• Aspirin
• Heparin
  • Reference: http://medicalmnemonics.com/

MI: treatment of acute MI: COAG

• Cyclomorph
• Oxygen
• Aspirin
• Glycerol trinitrate
  • Author: Alan Desmond Cork University Hospital

Mitral stenosis (MS) vs. regurgitation (MR): epidemiology

• MS is a female title (Ms.) and it is female predominant.
• MR is a male title (Mr.) and it is male predominant.
  • Reference: http://medicalmnemonics.com/

Murmur attributes: “IL PQRST” (person has ill PQRST heart waves)

• Intensity
• Location
• Pitch
• Quality
• Radiation
• Shape
• Timing
  • Author: Ghassan Abu Said 4th year Medical Student

Murmurs: innocent murmur features 8 S’s:

• Soft
• Systolic
• Short
• Sounds (S1 & S2) normal
• Symptomless Special tests normal (X-ray, EKG)
• Standing/ Sitting (vary with position)
• Sternal depression
  • Author: Ziad Jaradat Jordan University School of Medicine

Murmurs louder with inspiration vs expiration: SCRIPT

• Site
• Character (eg harsh, soft, blowing)
• Radiation
• Intensity
• Pitch
• Timing
  • Author: Jamal Khan Birmingham University Medical Student

Murmurs: right vs. left loudness: “RILE”

• Right sided heart murmurs are louder on Inspiration.
• Left sided heart murmurs are loudest on Expiration.
  • Reference: http://medicalmnemonics.com/

Murmurs: systolic vs. diastolic

• PASS: Pulmonic & Aortic Stenosis= Systolic.
• PAID: Pulmonic & Aortic Insufficiency= Diastolic
  • Author: Ciulla, RN, PA -C New Life Medical Clinic

Myocardial infarctions: treatment: INFARCTIONS

• IV access
• Narcotic analgesics (eg morphine, pethidine)
• Facilities for defibrillation (DF)
• Aspirin/ Anticoagulant (heparin)
• Rest
• Converting enzyme inhibitor
• Thrombolysis
• IV beta blocker
• Oxygen 60%
• Nitrates
• Stool Softeners
  • Reference: http://medicalmnemonics.com/

P

Pericarditis causes: CARDIAC RIND

• Collagen vascular disease
• Aortic aneurysm
• Radiation
• Drugs (such as hydralazine)
• Infections
• Acute renal failure
• Cardiac infarction
• Rheumatic fever
• Injury
• Neoplasms
• Dressler’s syndrome
  • Reference: http://medicalmnemonics.com/

Pericarditis EKG: “PericarditiS”

• PR depression in precordial leads.
• ST elevation.
  • Reference: http://medicalmnemonics.com/

Peripheral vascular insufficiency inspection criteria: SICVD

• Symmetry of leg musculature
• Integrity of skin
• Color of toenails
• Varicose veins
• Distribution of hair
  • Author: Jeffrey Turner Memorial University, Canada

Pulseless electrical activity causes PATCH MED:

• Pulmonary embolus
• Acidosis
• Tension pneumothorax
• Cardiac tamponade
• Hypokalemia/ Hyperkalemia/ Hypoxia/ Hypothermia/ Hypovolemia
• Myocardial infarction
• Electrolyte derangements
• Drugs
  • Author: Will Anderson University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

R

Rheumatic fever Revised Jones’ criteria: JONES crITERIA:

• Major criteria:
• Joint (arthritis)
• Obvious (Cardiac)
• Nodule (Rheumatic)
• Erythema marginatum
• Sydenham chorea
• ­ Minor criteria:
• Inflammatory cells (leukocytosis)
• Temperature (fever)
• ESR/CRP elevated
• Raised PR interval
• Itself (previous Hx of Rheumatic fever)
• Arthralgia
  • Author: Anthony Chan Chinese University of Hong Kong

S

ST elevation causes in ECG: ELEVATION

• Electrolytes
• LBBB
• Early repolarization
• Ventricular hypertrophy
• Aneurysm
• Treatment (eg pericardiocentesis)
• Injury (AMI, contusion)
• Osborne waves (hypothermia)
• Non-occlusive vasospasm
  • Author: Ken Evans Saskatchewan Health, Acute and Emergency Services

Supraventricular tachycardia treatment ABCDE:

• Adenosine
• Beta-blocker
• Calcium channel antagonist
• Digoxin
• Excitation (vagal stimulation)
  • Author: Richard Thompson Queens University, Belfast, NI

V

Ventricular tachycardia treatment: LAMB

• Lidocaine
• Amiodarone
• Mexiltene/ Magnesium
• Beta-blocker
  • Author: Richard Thompson Queens University, Belfast, NI