Cardiovascular Management

Question 1

Describe the standard limb leads, i.e. where they are aligned

Answer 1

Lead I: RA-LA
Lead II: RA-LL
Lead III: LA-LL

Question 2

What does the P wave represent? How long is it?

Answer 2

Atrial depolarisation
0.08-0.10s

Question 3

What does the QRS complex represent? How long is it?

Answer 3

Ventricular depolarisation
Less than 0.10s

Question 4

What does the T wave represent?

Answer 4

Ventricular repolarisation

Question 5

What does the PR interval represent? How long is it?

Answer 5

AV nodal delay
0.12-0.20s

Question 6

What does the ST segment represent?

Answer 6

(maintained) Ventricular systole

Question 7

What does the TP interval represent?

Answer 7

Diastole

Question 8

What are the 3 augmented limb leads?

Answer 8

aVR, aVL and aVF

Question 9

One large box (5 small squares) on an ECG represents how many seconds?

Answer 9

0.2 seconds

Question 10

How do we calculate heart rate on a regular ECG?

Answer 10

300/no. of large boxes between R-R peaks

Question 11

How do we calculate heart rate on an irregular ECG?

Answer 11

300/no. of QRS peaks in 6 large boxes

Question 12

What are the main risk factors for CVD?

Answer 12

Hypertension
Smoking
Diabetes
Dyslipidaemia/obesity
Lack of physical activity

Question 13

HDL cholesterol tends to be low when triglycerides are high. True/False?

Answer 13

True

Question 14

Essential hypertension has a clear underlying cause. True/False?

Answer 14

False
Cause largely unknown; secondary hypertension usually has a cause

Question 15

What are the reversible causes of cardiac arrest?

Answer 15

Hypoxia
Hypokalaemia/hyperkalaemia
Hypothermia/hyperthermia
Hypovolaemia

Tension pneumothorax
Tamponade
Thrombosis
Toxins

Question 16

What is the treatment for hyperkalemia?

Answer 16

Insulin and dextrose infusion- moves K+ back into cells
IV calcium gluconate- protects myocardium

Question 17

Does a low diastolic bp indicate arterial vasoconstriction or vasodilation?

Answer 17

Arterial vasodilation (as in anaphylaxis or sepsis)

Question 18

Does a narrowed pulse pressure suggested suggests arterial vasoconstriction or vasodilation?

Answer 18

Suggests arterial vasoconstriction (cardiogenic shock or hypovolaemia)

(difference between systolic and diastolic pressures; normally 35–45 mmHg)

Question 19

What is the healthy level for Total Cholesterol?

Answer 19

5 or below

Question 20

What is the healthy level for HDL?

Answer 20

1 or above

Question 21

What is the healthy level for LDL?

Answer 21

4 or below

Question 22

What are triglycerides?

Answer 22

Fatty substance similar to LDL

Question 23

What is the healthy level of Fasting triglycerides? (when you’re asked not to eat for several hours before the test)

Answer 23

1.7 or below

Question 24

What is the healthy level of non-Fasting triglycerides?

Answer 24

2.3 or below

Question 25

What is the healthy level of Total cholesterol to HDL cholesterol ratio?

Answer 25

6 or below