Cardiology
Browse 94 topics in cardiology, including presentations, diagnoses, procedures, tools, and exam links.
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Use the filters below to move between emergency clusters, core pathways, exam topics, procedures, and the most relevant clinical atlas pages.
Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA) in Adults
An Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA) is defined as a permanent, localised dilatation of the abdominal aorta having a diameter greater than 3.0 cm or exceeding the normal diameter by more than 50%. It is a critical...
Acute Coronary Syndrome
Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS) is a life-threatening spectrum of myocardial ischaemia resulting from the acute disruption... MRCP exam preparation.
Acute Heart Failure
Key Facts The "Flash" Phenomenon : In hypertensive AHF, symptoms arise from fluid redistribution (sympathetic-mediated vasoconstriction) rather than total body volume overload. Time is Myocardium : Every hour of delay...
Acute Myocardial Infarction
Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) represents myocardial cell death (necrosis) due to prolonged ischemia, typically resul... MRCP exam preparation.
Acute Pericarditis
Acute pericarditis is defined as inflammation of the pericardial sac, the double-layered fibroserous membrane that envel... MRCP exam preparation.
Acute Pulmonary Oedema (APO)
Acute Pulmonary Oedema (APO) is a life-threatening medical emergency characterised by the rapid accumulation of fluid in... MRCP exam preparation.
Acute Rheumatic Fever
Key Facts Definition : Post-infectious inflammatory syndrome following Group A streptococcal pharyngitis, affecting heart, joints, brain, and skin Global Incidence : 8-51 per 100,000 in developing countries; 1-3 per...
Acute Valvular Dysfunction
Acute valvular dysfunction represents sudden failure or severe deterioration of heart valve function, causing either reg... MRCP exam preparation.
AL Amyloidosis
AL amyloidosis (immunoglobulin light chain amyloidosis) is a rare, systemic protein misfolding disorder caused by the ex... MRCP exam preparation.
Amyloidosis
AL Amyloidosis (Light Chain) : Most common systemic form. Due to clonal plasma cell disorder producing toxic immunoglobulin light chains (kappa or lambda). Medical emergency requiring rapid intervention. ATTR...
Aortic Dissection
Mechanism : Intimal tear → blood dissects into media → false lumen formation → propagation proximally/distally Incidence : 5-30 per million per year; peak age 60-70 years; male:female ratio 2-3:1 Presentation : Sudden...
Aortic Regurgitation
The management of AR is heavily guided by symptom status and echocardiographic parameters of LV function. The 2020 AHA/ACC and 2021 ESC guidelines emphasize early surgical intervention in asymptomatic patients once...
Aortic Stenosis
Aortic Stenosis (AS) is the most common primary valvular heart disease requiring surgical intervention in high-income co... MRCP exam preparation.
Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy
Arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC) is a genetically determined cardiomyopathy characterized by progr... MRCP exam preparation.
Atrial Fibrillation
Atrial Fibrillation (AF) is a supraventricular tachyarrhythmia characterised by uncoordinated atrial electrical activati... MRCP exam preparation.
Atrial Fibrillation - Acute Management
Acute AF in the ED demands rapid evaluation for instability (immediate cardioversion), determination of onset timing (48... ACEM Primary Written, ACEM Fellowshi
Atrial Fibrillation in Adults
Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a supraventricular tachyarrhythmia characterized by uncoordinated atrial electrical activati... MRCP, PLAB exam preparation.
Atrial Fibrillation with Rapid Ventricular Response
Atrial fibrillation with rapid ventricular response (AF-RVR) is a common cardiovascular emergency characterized by irreg... MRCP, FRACP exam preparation.
Atrial Septal Defect in Adults
Atrial septal defect (ASD) is a congenital cardiac anomaly characterised by an abnormal communication between the left a... MRCP exam preparation.
Beta-Blocker Overdose
Beta-blocker overdose represents a life-threatening cardiovascular emergency characterized by profound bradycardia, hypo... MRCP, FRACP exam preparation.
Bradycardia in Adults
Bradycardia is defined as a heart rate below 60 beats per minute (bpm) on resting electrocardiogram. While bradycardia can be a normal physiological finding in well-conditioned athletes and during sleep, pathological...
Broad-Complex Tachycardia
Broad-complex tachycardia accounts for 20-30% of ED tachyarrhythmias. Approximately 80% are VT, rising to 95% in patient... ACEM Primary Written, ACEM Fellowshi
Calcium Channel Blocker Overdose
Calcium channel blocker (CCB) overdose is a potentially lethal cardiovascular poisoning characterized by profound bradycardia, hypotension, cardiogenic shock, and metabolic derangements including hyperglycaemia....
Carcinoid Syndrome
Key Facts Tumour Origin : Midgut NETs (Appendix, Ileum) most common to cause syndrome. Syndrome Appears : Usually only after Liver Metastases (Hepatic first-pass metabolism bypassed). 10% of NET patients develop the...
Cardiac Amyloidosis
Cardiac amyloidosis is an infiltrative cardiomyopathy caused by extracellular deposition of misfolded proteins (amyloid ... MRCP exam preparation.
Cardiac Anatomy & Coronary Circulation
Define/Describe - Overview of cardiac chambers, orientation in thorax... CICM First Part Written SAQ, CICM First Part Written MCQ exam preparation.
Cardiac Arrest - Adult
Cardiac arrest is the cessation of mechanical cardiac activity confirmed by the absence of a palpable central pulse, unr... ACEM Primary Written, ACEM Primary V
Cardiac Monitors and Telemetry in ICU
Comprehensive guide to cardiac monitoring in the intensive care unit including ECG acquisition, lead placement, continuous monitoring parameters, alarm management, derived indices (HRV, QTc), arrhythmia detection,...
Cardiac Tamponade in Adults
Cardiac tamponade is a life-threatening cardiovascular emergency characterized by accumulation of fluid within the pericardial space, resulting in elevated intrapericardial pressure and impaired ventricular filling....
Cardiogenic Shock
Cardiogenic shock occurs when the heart fails to pump sufficient blood to meet metabolic demands, resulting in systemic ... ACEM Primary Written, ACEM Fellowshi
Cardiovascular Physiology
Cardiovascular physiology forms the foundation of critical care practice, informing haemodynamic monitoring, vasoactive ... CICM Fellowship Written, CICM Fellow
Chronic Heart Failure
1.1 Gross Cardiac Anatomy The human heart is a four-chambered muscular pump located within the middle mediastinum, oriented obliquely with its apex directed anteriorly, inferiorly, and to the left. Understanding the...
Chronic Heart Failure
Historically viewed as a "pump failure" problem, it is now understood as a neurohormonal malignancy . Maladaptive activation of the Sympathetic Nervous System (SNS) and Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone System (RAAS)...
Chronic Heart Failure
Heart failure (HF) is a complex clinical syndrome resulting from any structural or functional cardiac disorder that impairs the ability of the ventricle to fill with or eject blood. It represents a major and growing...
Chronic Limb Ischaemia (Peripheral Arterial Disease)
Chronic limb ischaemia represents the spectrum of peripheral arterial disease (PAD) affecting the lower extremities, ranging from asymptomatic disease through intermittent claudication to critical limb-threatening...
Coarctation of the Aorta
CoA accounts for 5-8% of all congenital heart disease with an incidence of approximately 4 per 10,000 live births. The condition represents a paradigm of duct-dependent physiology in severe cases: neonates may appear...
Conn's Syndrome (Primary Hyperaldosteronism)
Conn's syndrome, or primary aldosteronism (PA), represents the most common cause of secondary hypertension and potentially curable form of hypertension. First described by Jerome Conn in 1955, it is characterised by...
Constrictive Pericarditis
Constrictive pericarditis (CP) is a clinical syndrome resulting from fibrotic thickening and/or calcification of the per... MRCP exam preparation.
Contrast-Induced Nephropathy / Contrast-Associated Acute Kidney Injury (CA-AKI)
Definition (KDIGO): Serum creatinine rise ≥26.5 μmol/L within 48 hours OR ≥50% increase within 7 days of contrast exp... CICM Second Part Written, CICM Secon
Costochondritis
The pathognomonic feature is reproducible, localized tenderness on palpation of the affected costochondral junctions, most frequently involving the 2nd to 5th ribs. Unlike cardiac pain, costochondritis is typically...
DiGeorge Syndrome (22q11.2 Deletion Syndrome)
DiGeorge Syndrome, now more accurately termed 22q11.2 Deletion Syndrome (22q11DS), is the most common chromosomal microd... MRCPCH exam preparation.
Dilated Cardiomyopathy (DCM)
High-Yield Points: - Always exclude reversible causes: alcohol, thyroid disease, tachycardia-induced, peripartum, inflammatory, nutritional deficiencies - Genetic testing is recommended for all DCM patients without...
Down Syndrome (Trisomy 21)
Down Syndrome (DS) is the most common autosomal chromosomal abnormality and the leading genetic cause of intellectual di... MRCPCH, USMLE exam preparation.
Dyslipidaemia and Lipid Management
Dyslipidaemia encompasses a spectrum of lipid abnormalities characterized by elevated low-density lipoprotein cholestero... MRCP exam preparation.
Electrical Cardioversion
ALWAYS press SYNC button before cardioversion - asynchronous shock in R-on-T can precipitate ventricular fibrillation... ACEM Fellowship Written, ACEM Fellow
Erectile Dysfunction
Erectile dysfunction (ED) is defined as the persistent or recurrent inability to achieve and/or maintain an erection suf... MRCS exam preparation.
Friedreich's Ataxia
The disease typically manifests before age 25 years (mean onset 10-15 years) with progressive gait ataxia, followed by limb ataxia, dysarthria, sensory loss, and loss of deep tendon reflexes. The pathognomonic...
Heart Block (AV Block)
Atrioventricular (AV) block represents impaired electrical conduction between the atria and ventricles, ranging from mild PR interval prolongation (first-degree) to complete absence of AV conduction (third-degree or...
Heart Failure
Heart Failure (HF) is a complex clinical syndrome characterised by the heart's inability to maintain sufficient cardiac ... MRCP exam preparation.
Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction (HFpEF)
Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction (HFpEF) is a clinical syndrome characterised by symptoms and signs of hea... MRCP exam preparation.
Heart Failure with Reduced Ejection Fraction (HFrEF)
The pathophysiology involves initial myocardial injury (commonly from ischaemic heart disease in 60-70% of cases) followed by maladaptive neurohormonal activation, ventricular remodelling, and progressive cardiac...
Heparin-Induced Thrombocytopenia (HIT)
The hallmark of HIT is the combination of: Thrombocytopenia (platelet drop 50% from baseline) Timing (5-10 days after heparin initiation, or less than 24 hours if recent prior exposure) Thrombosis (30-50% of untreated...
Hypertension
Hypertension (HTN) is a chronic medical condition characterised by persistently elevated systemic arterial blood pressur... MRCP exam preparation.
Hypertensive Emergency in Adults
Hypertensive emergency is severe hypertension (typically SBP 180 mmHg and/or DBP 120 mmHg) with evidence of acute end-organ damage requiring immediate blood pressure reduction within minutes to hours to prevent...
Hypertensive Nephropathy
It is conventionally cited as the second most common cause of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) worldwide (after diabetic kidney disease), although the true contribution of hypertension as a primary cause versus a...
Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM)
Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a genetic cardiac disorder characterised by unexplained left ventricular hypertroph... MRCP exam preparation.
Hypokalaemia
Clinical manifestations include muscle weakness, cramps, constipation, polyuria, and cardiac effects ranging from palpitations to ventricular arrhythmias. ECG changes are pathognomonic: U waves, flattened T waves, ST...
Hypomagnesaemia
The most important clinical consequences include life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias (particularly Torsades de Pointes), neuromuscular irritability (tetany, seizures), and electrolyte disturbances that cannot be...
Infective Endocarditis (Adult): The Gold Standard Comprehensive Resource
Infective endocarditis (IE) is a microbial infection of the endocardial surface of the heart, most commonly involving th... MRCP exam preparation.
Kawasaki Disease
The primary concern is the development of coronary artery aneurysms (CAAs) , which occur in 15-25% of untreated cases but can be reduced to less than 5% with prompt treatment using intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) 2...
Marfan Syndrome (Paediatric)
Marfan Syndrome (MFS) is the most common heritable disorder of connective tissue worldwide, with profound implications for paediatric care. Caused by pathogenic variants in the FBN1 gene encoding Fibrillin-1 , this...
Mitral Regurgitation
Mitral Regurgitation (MR) is a valvular heart disease characterised by the abnormal backward flow of blood from the left... MRCP exam preparation.
Myocarditis
The diagnosis requires high clinical suspicion, particularly in young patients presenting with cardiac symptoms following viral illness. Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) has emerged as the gold standard...
Noonan Syndrome
Unlike Turner syndrome (45,X), which affects only females and predominantly causes left-sided cardiac lesions, Noonan syndrome affects both sexes equally and primarily manifests right-sided cardiac pathology. The...
Obstructive Shock (Adult)
Obstructive shock is a form of circulatory failure caused by mechanical obstruction to blood flow into or out of the heart, resulting in critically reduced cardiac output despite normal or increased intravascular...
PEA and Asystole (Non-Shockable Rhythms)
PEA is defined as an organised electrical rhythm on the monitor in the absence of a palpable central pulse, while asysto... ACEM Primary Written, ACEM Primary V
Pericardiocentesis
Ultrasound-guided pericardiocentesis has 90-97% success rate compared to 50-80% for blind technique (PMID: 12628672, ... ACEM Primary Written, ACEM Primary V
Peripartum Cardiomyopathy
One-liner : Peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) is an idiopathic cardiomyopathy presenting with heart failure (LVEF <45%) in the last month of pregnancy to 5 months postpartum, characterised by potential for recovery...
Persistent Pulmonary Hypertension of the Newborn (PPHN)
A comprehensive, evidence-based guide to persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn (PPHN), covering pathophysiology of failed circulatory transition, molecular mechanisms, diagnostic criteria including...
Post-Cardiac Arrest Care (Adult)
Post-cardiac arrest care encompasses the comprehensive management of patients who achieve return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) following cardiac arrest. This critical phase addresses the systemic consequences of...
Post-Resuscitation Care
Post-resuscitation care is the critical phase between ROSC and definitive outcome, determining whether a patient survive... ACEM Primary Written, ACEM Primary V
Potassium Disorders: Hypokalemia and Hyperkalemia
Cardiac membrane stabilisation: Calcium gluconate 10% 10-20 mL IV over 2-5 min (or calcium chloride 10% 5-10 mL via C... CICM Second Part Written, CICM Secon
Pulmonary Artery Catheters in ICU
Comprehensive guide to pulmonary artery catheter (Swan-Ganz) monitoring in critically ill patients, including indications, insertion technique, waveform progression, hemodynamic parameters, thermodilution cardiac...
Pulmonary Embolism
"Think PE in Unexplained Dyspnoea" : PE can present with isolated dyspnoea, pleuritic chest pain, syncope, or even just tachycardia. The classic triad of dyspnoea, chest pain, and haemoptysis occurs in less than 20%...
Pulmonary Embolism (PE)
Pulmonary Embolism (PE) is a life-threatening cardiovascular emergency caused by the occlusion of one or more pulmonary ... MRCP exam preparation.
Q Fever
Acute Q fever presents in a spectrum from asymptomatic infection (60%) to three main clinical syndromes: flu-like illness , atypical pneumonia , and granulomatous hepatitis . Most acute cases are self-limiting, but...
Renal Artery Stenosis
The clinical significance of RAS extends beyond hypertension to include ischaemic nephropathy, cardiovascular destabilisation syndromes such as recurrent flash pulmonary oedema (Pickering syndrome), and progressive...
Rheumatic Fever
Acute Rheumatic Fever (ARF) is a delayed, non-suppurative, autoimmune sequela of Group A Streptococcus (GAS) pharyngitis. It represents a multisystem inflammatory disorder characterized by migratory polyarthritis,...
Shock
Shock is a life-threatening syndrome of acute circulatory failure resulting in inadequate cellular oxygen delivery and t... MRCP, MRCEM exam preparation.
STEMI Management in ICU
Comprehensive CICM Second Part clinical guide to STEMI Management in the ICU, covering reperfusion strategies (primary PCI vs fibrinolysis), antiplatelet and anticoagulation therapy, mechanical complications,...