# List of cardiology mnemonics

This is a list of cardiology mnemonics, categorized and alphabetized. For mnemonics in other medical specialities, see this list of medical mnemonics.

## Aortic regurgitation: causes

CREAM:
Congenital
Rheumatic damage
Endocarditis
Aortic dissection/ Aortic root dilatation
Marfan’s

## Aortic stenosis characteristics

SAD:$^{p.29}$
Syncope
Angina
Dyspnoea

## Aortic to right Subclavian path

ABC'S$^{p.1}$
Aortic arch gives rise to:
Brachiocephalic trunk
Left Common Carotid
Left Subclavian

## Heart valves (right to left)

Toilet Paper My Ass, or They Pay Me Alcohol, or "T"hugs "P"ush "Me" "A"round.
Tricuspid valve
Pulmonary semilunar valve
Mitral (bicuspid) valve
Aortic semilunar valve

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

HILT:$^{p.29}$
Heaving
Impalpable
Laterally displaced
Thrusting/ Tapping
If it's impalpable, causes are COPD:$^{p.29}$
COPD
Obesity
Pleural, Pericardial effusion
Dextrocardia

## Atrial Arrhythmias

Anticoagulants: To prevent embolization.
Beta blockers: To block the effects of certain hormones on the heart to slow the heart rate.
Calcium Channel Blockers: Help slow the heart rate by blocking the number of electrical impulses that pass through the AV node into the lower heart chambers (ventricles).
Digoxin: Helps slow the heart rate by blocking the number of electrical impulses that pass through the AV node into the lower heart chambers (ventricles).
Electrocardioversion: A procedure in which electric currents are used to reset the heart's rhythm back to regular pattern.

## Atrial Fibrillation causes

Pirates:$^{p.3}$
Pulmonary: PE, COPD
Iatrogenic
Rheumatic heart: mitral regurgitation
Atherosclerotic: MI, CAD
Thyroid: hyperthyroid
Endocarditis
Sick sinus syndrome

## Atrial fibrillation management

ABCD:$^{p.30}$
Anti-coagulate
Beta-block to control rate
Cardiovert
Digoxin

## Beck's triad (cardiac tamponade)

3 D's:$^{p.30}$
Diminished heart sounds
Distended jugular veins
Decreased arterial pressure

## Betablockers: cardioselective betablockers

Betablockers Acting Exclusively At Myocardium:$^{p.30}$
Betaxolol
Acebutelol
Esmolol
Atenolol
Metoprolol

## CHF Treatment

LMNOP
Lasix
Morphine
Nitrites
Oxygen
VassoPressors

## CHF: causes of exacerbation

FAILURE$^{p.30}$
Forgot medication
Arrhythmia/ Anaemia
Ischemia/ Infarction/ Infection
Lifestyle: taken too much salt
Upregulation of CO: pregnancy, hyperthyroidism
Renal failure
Embolism: pulmonary

## Complications of Myocardial Infarction

Darth Vader
Death
Arrhythmia
Rupture(free ventricular wall/ ventricular septum/ papillary muscles)
Tamponade
Heart failure (acute or chronic)
Valve disease
Aneurysm of Ventricles
Dressler's Syndrome
thromboEmbolism (mural thrombus)
Recurrence/ mitral Regurgitation

## Coronary artery bypass graft: indications

DUST:$^{p.31}$
Depressed ventricular function
Unstable angina
Stenosis of the left main stem
Triple vessel disease

## ECG: left vs. right bundle block

WiLLiaM MaRRoW:$^{p.31}$
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.

## Exercise ramp ECG: contraindications

RAMP:$^{p.31}$
Recent MI
Aortic stenosis
MI in the last 7 days
Pulmonary hypertension

## Endocarditis

FROM JANE:
Fever
Roth's spots
Osler's nodes
Murmur of heart
Janeway lesions
Anemia
* Nail hemorrhage
Emboli

## Heart valve sequence

Try Puling My Aorta:$^{p.3}$
Tricuspid
Pulmonary
Mitral (bicuspid)
Aorta

## Heart blocks

If the R is far from P, then you have a First Degree.
Longer, longer, longer, drop! Then you have a Wenkebach.
if some P's don't get through, then you have Mobitz II.
If P's and Q's don't agree, then you have a Third Degree.

## Infarctions

INFARCTIONS$^{p.34}$
IV access
Narcotic analgesics (e.g. morphine, pethidine)
Facilities for defibrillation (DF)
Aspirin/ Anticoagulant (heparin)
Rest
Converting enzyme inhibitor
Thrombolysis
IV beta blocker
Oxygen 60%
Nitrates
Stool Softeners

## JVP: wave form

ASK ME$^{p.32}$
Atrial contraction
Systole (ventricular contraction)
Klosure (closure) of tricuspid valve, so atrial filling
Maximal atrial filling
Emptying of atrium

## MI: basic management

BOOMAR:$^{p.32}$
Bed rest
Oxygen
Opiate
Monitor
Anticoagulate
Reduce clot size

## MI: signs and symptoms

PULSE:$^{p.32}$
Persistent chest pains
Upset stomach
Lightheadedness
Shortness of breath
Excessive sweating

## MI: therapeutic treatment

O BATMAN!$^{p.32}$
Oxygen
Beta blocker
ASA
Thrombolytics (e.g. heparin)
Morphine
Ace prn
Nitroglycerin

## MI: treatment of acute MI

COAG:$^{p.32}$
Cyclomorph
Oxygen
Aspirin
Glycerol trinitrate

## Murmur attributes

"IL PQRST" (person has ill PQRST heart waves):$^{p.32}$
Intensity
Location
Pitch
Quality
Radiation
Shape
Timing

## Murmurs: innocent murmur features

8 S's:$^{p.32}$
Soft
Systolic
Short
Sounds (S1 & S2) normal
Symptomless
Special tests normal (X-ray, EKG)
Standing/ Sitting (vary with position)
Sternal depression

## Murmurs: louder with inspiration vs expiration

LEft sided murmurs louder with Expiration
RIght sided murmurs louder with Inspiration.$^{p.32}$

## Murmurs: questions to ask

SCRIPT:$^{p.32}$
Site
Character (e.g. harsh, soft, blowing)
Radiation
Intensity
Pitch
Timing

## Murmurs: systolic vs. diastolic

PASS:Pulmonic & Aortic
Stenosis=Systolic.
PAID: Pulmonic & Aortic
Insufficiency=Diastolic.$^{p.32}$

## Pericarditis: causes

CARDIAC RIND:$^{p.34}$
Collagen vascular disease
Aortic aneurysm
Radiation
Drugs (such as hydralazine)
Infections
Acute renal failure
Cardiac infarction
Rheumatic fever
Injury
Neoplasms
Dressler's syndrome

## Pericarditis: EKG

PericarditiS:$^{p.34}$
PR depression in precordial leads.
ST elevation.

## Peripheral vascular insufficiency: inspection criteria

SICVD:$^{p.34}$
Symmetry of leg musculature
Integrity of skin
Color of toenails
Varicose veins
Distribution of hair

## Pulseless electrical activity: causes

PATCH MED:$^{p.34}$
Pulmonary embolus
Acidosis
Tension pneumothorax
Cardiac tamponade
Hypokalemia/ Hyperkalemia/ Hypoxia/ Hypothermia/ Hypovolemia
Myocardial infarction
Electrolyte derangements
Drugs

## ST elevation causes in ECG

ELEVATION:$^{p.34}$
Electrolytes
LBBB
Early repolarization
Ventricular hypertrophy
Aneurysm
Treatment (e.g. pericardiocentesis)
Injury (AMI, contusion)
Osborne waves (hypothermia)
Non-occlusive vasospasm

## Supraventricular tachycardia: treatment

ABCDE:$^{p.35}$
Adenosine
Beta-blocker
Calcium channel antagonist
Digoxin
Excitation (vagal stimulation)

## Ventricular tachycardia: treatment

LAMB:$^{p.35}$
Lidocaine
Amiodarone
Mexiltene/ Magnesium
Beta-blocker

## White Blood Cell Count

Never let monkeys eat bananas:
Neutrophils
lymphocytes
monocytes
eosinophils
basophils