Circulation Flashcards
What is involved in circulation checks?
Observe pallor, body colour. Finger nail beds, palms. Inner lip. Peripheral temperature. Pulse. Blood pressure. Capillary refill less than 2 seconds. Urine output.
What can compromise circulation?
Heart disease, myocardial ischaemia, myocardial infarction, hypovolaemia, arrhythmia, cardiac tamponade, myocarditis.
What is myocardial ischaemia?
When the blood flow to and from the heart is compromised, maybe by atherosclerosis.
What is myocardial infarction?
When blood flow decreases or stops to a part of the heart, causing damage or heart failure.
What is hypovolemia?
Abnormally low extracellular fluid in the body. Consider crystalloid infusion.
What is a crystalloid fluid?
An aqueous solution of mineral salts and other water soluble molecules. Isotonic to human plasma.
What is a colloid fluid?
Gelatinous solution to maintain a high osmotic pressure in the blood.
What are arrhythmias?
An irregular heartbeat.
What is ventricular fibrillation?
A heart rhythm problem when the heart beats with rapid, erratic electrical impulses.
What is ventricular tachycardia?
A fast, abnormal heart rate with 3 heart beats or more in a row at a rate of 100 beats a minute at rest.
What is cardiac tamponade?
Blood or fluid fill the space in the pericardium (heart sac), reducing ventricular filling.
What is myocarditis?
Inflammation of the heart muscle.
What are inotropes?
An agent that alters the force of muscular contractions of the heart.
