Cardiovascular Emergencies

Question 1

What is the flow of blood through the heart?

Answer 1

RA > RV > Lungs > LA > LV

Question 2

What is arteriosclerosis?

Answer 2

thickening/hardening of vessel wall

Question 3

What is atherosclerosis?

Answer 3

buildup of plaque inside of the vessels

Question 4

What is plaque?

Answer 4

adipose tissue depositis

Question 5

What are 2 cardiac diseases that can contribute to atherosclerosis?

Answer 5

HTN and hypercholesterolemia

Question 6

What can a complete obstruction of the coronary artery lead to?

Answer 6

myocardial infarction

Question 7

How many coronary arteries are there?

Answer 7

4

Question 8

In what part of the contraction cycle do the coronary arteries fill up with blood?

Answer 8

diastole

Question 9

What 3 bad habits/lifestyles can contribute to acute coronary syndromes?

Answer 9

smoking | obesity | alcohol abuse

Question 10

What is cardiac compromise?

Answer 10

lack of O2 in the heart = makes the heart adapt and work harder to compromise for hypoxia

Question 11

How do we treat for cardiac compromise? Why?

Answer 11

O2 | NEED to decrease O2 demand of the heart = decrease the workload

Question 12

What are the 3 types of definitive care for cardiac compromise situations?

Answer 12

Cardiac Cath Lab | Clot-busting medications | Angioplasty/CABG

Question 13

What are the 6 types of chest pain complaints in terms of location and type?

Answer 13

substernal/midsternal | one that radiates to neck, jaw, and L arm | heartburn/indigestion | apressure, squeezing and tightness

Question 14

How do you differentiate GI-origin vs cardiac-origin heartburn/indigestion?

Answer 14

GI-originated indigestion is relieved with antacids | cardiac-origin indigestion is progressively worsened and not relived by antacids

Question 15

How does hypoxia present itself in the patient?

Answer 15

will have pain

Question 16

What are the 6 patient rights?

Answer 16

right patient | right drug | right dosage | right route | right time | documentation

Question 17

How does nitroglycerine work?

Answer 17

vasodilates

Question 18

What is the indication for nitroglycerine?

Answer 18

cardiac-related/origin chest pain

Question 19

What are the 3 contraindications for nitroglycerine?

Answer 19

hypotension (low BP) | recently taken enhanced drugs | MOI related CP

Question 20

What is the route for nitroglycerine?

Answer 20

sublingual

Question 21

What must you always do before and after administering nitroglycerine?

Answer 21

check BP

Question 22

What are the 3 side effects for nitroglycerine?

Answer 22

drops BP = light headed | dizziness | weak

Question 23

What position must you place the patient who recently had nitoglycerine?

Answer 23

supine

Question 24

Why do you want to vasodilate the blood vessels for someone who has an MI or CAD?

Answer 24

to supply more blood to the heart = decreasing workload

Question 25

What is the indication for administering aspirin?

Answer 25

for cardiac-origin chest pain

Question 26

How does aspirin work?

Answer 26

anti-clotting formation

Question 27

What are the 2 contraindications for aspirin?

Answer 27

allergies | recent surgeries | recent GI bleeds

Question 28

What is the route for aspirin?

Answer 28

oral

Question 29

What is angina pectoris?

Answer 29

temporary inadequate supply of O@ to heart muscle

Question 30

What usually triggers angina pectoris?

Answer 30

exertion

Question 31

What PMHx will a person suffering from angina pectoris have?

Answer 31

CAD - atherosclerosis

Question 32

How is an angina pectoris usually relieved by?

Answer 32

rest

Question 33

What is an unstable angina?

Answer 33

angina pectoris does not resolve with rest/other methods

Question 34

What is happening to the heart muscle during an unstable angina?

Answer 34

heart is becoming ischemic (lack of O2)

Question 35

What may an unstable angina lead to?

Answer 35

MI

Question 36

What is a Myocardial Infarction?

Answer 36

death of cardiac muscle tissue due to ischemia of the heart due to sudden complete blockage of coronary arteries

Question 37

What are the 7 signs and symptoms of an MI/angina?

Answer 37

chest pain | jaw pain | epigastric pain/indigestion | poor skin signs | dyspnea | irregular pulses | progressively hypotensive

Question 38

What occurs right after MI if symptoms worsen?

Answer 38

cardiogenic shock

Question 39

What occurs after cardiogenic shock?

Answer 39

cardiac arrest

Question 40

What is a significant sign of cardiogenic shock?

Answer 40

progressive hypotension (80/40)

Question 41

What is cardiogenic shock?

Answer 41

heart is unable to pump as efficiently as it used to = drop in perfusion

Question 42

What are the 4 treatments we can do for an MI/angina pectoris?

Answer 42

give O2 | nitro | aspirin | treat for shock as needed

Question 43

What is an Acute Aortic Aneurysm?

Answer 43

ballooning of aortic vessel somewhere within the vessel walls of aorta

Question 44

What causes the ballooning effect seen in AAA?

Answer 44

blood is released into the layers of the aortic vessel

Question 45

What are the 2 common causes of AAA?

Answer 45

blunt force trauma and CAD

Question 46

What is the biggest concern with a patient who has a AAA? Why?

Answer 46

rupture of the aneurysm = death in seconds

Question 47

What are the 5 symptoms of a AAA?

Answer 47

unequal pulses | unequal BP | pulsating abdominal mass | tearing/shearing chest pain | hypo-perfusion (shock)

Question 48

What would be considered hypertensive? (Range)

Answer 48

120/80 - 140/90

Question 49

What is considered a hypertensive emergency?

Answer 49

Systolic BP > 160 mmHg | or rapid increase

Question 50

What are the 9 signs of hypertensive emergency?

Answer 50

tinnitus | epistaxis | photophobia | altered mental status (AMS) | strong bounding pulse | N/V | dizziness | peripheral pulmonary edema | flushed/red skin

Question 51

What is the treatment for hypertensive emergencies?

Answer 51

supportive care

Question 52

What are the 4 symptoms of CHF?

Answer 52

pulmonary edema | crackles | dyspnea | lower extremity edema | pink frothy sputum

Question 53

What is CHF?

Answer 53

decreased cardiac function = unable to pump blood effectively = backup of blood