1C: Cardiac Pathologies I Flashcards
What is pericardial effusion?
Fluid fills the pericardial sac that keeps the heart from contracting
What can cause pericardial effusion?
Inflammatory reaction or traumatic
What can excessive pericardial effusion lead to?
Cardiac taponade
Cardiac tamponade is a precursor to what?
Cardiac arrest
What is cardiac tamponade characterized by?
- Elevated by intracardiac pressures
- Progressively limited ventricular diastolic filling
- Reduced stroke volume
Describe the process of cardiac tamponade
The increased pressure on the outside of the heart causes the internal pressure to get high. HR increases as a response which decreases filling time, which leads to decreased stroke volume
When is cardiac tamponade always a concern?
Following direct chest-sternal trauma, acute trauma
Describe congenital heart problems
Generally related to malformation of fetal heart or failure of fetal circulation communication to close
What are the two categories of congenital heart problems?
Cyanotic and acyanotic
What does cyanotic mean?
Condition that causes problems with oxygenation
What does acyanotic mean?
Condition that does not cause problems with oxygenation
What happens to the heart with age?
Inherent loss of ejection fraction
What do most cardiac problems in the elderly relate to?
Specific acquired disease pathology
What is the definition of CAD?
Clinical signs and symptoms of myocardial ischemia
What is the most common etiology of CAD?
Atherosclerosis of the coronary arteries
How does atherosclerosis occur?
The endothelium gets damaged and the typical healing process creates a blockage where lipids and cholesterol get stuck
What are risk factors of CAD?
Age, gender, hereditary, smoking, HTN, obesity, sedentary lifestyle, hypercholesterolemia, hyperlipidemia, DM, diet, anxiety
What is the most prevalent disease in the US?
CAD
Where is the initial damage with atherosclerosis?
Endothelium
What concept is show in the image?
Atherosclerosis progression
What % of people with CAD die within one hour of acute MI?
20-25%
What can acute ischemia lead to?
Ventricular fibrillation and cardiac death due to lack of oxygen
What interventions can improve the outcome with acute onset MI?
Immediate CPR and ER intervention with anticoagulation
What is the key to improvements in CAD outcome?
Early diagnosis and prevention through lifestyle and risk factor intervenetion
What is angina?
Symptoms as the result of ischemia
What are the seven main symptoms associated with angina?
- Fatigue
- Chest pain
- Chest pressure
- Shortness of breath
- Radiating pain
- Jaw pain
- Stomach pain or indigestion
Describe chronic, stable angina
Exercise induced symptoms where HR reaches a threshold where it can no longer meet O2 demands of myocardium
What medication is used to manage stable angina, and what is it’s mechanism?
Nitroglycerin - arterial vasodilation
What is a common side effect of using nitroglycerin as a rescue med?
Ischemic headache
What is unstable angina?
Where symptoms come on at variable times including at rest
What is indicated if a pt is progressing from stable to unstable angina?
Prompt medical attention for reassessment of medical and surgical management due to condition worsening
What are the three factors that contribute to unstable angina?
- Vasoconstriction
- Plaque progression
- Irregularities
