ACS & AMI

Question 1

what does an acute MI result from?

Answer 1

lack of oxygen supply to the working myocardium

Question 2

what regional infarcts due to?

Answer 2

lack of blood flow occurring when an epicardial artery is blocked by atheroma or thrombus, or other obstructions

Question 3

when does a heart attack occur?

Answer 3

a heart attack occurs when the flow of blood to the heart is blocked

Question 4

how is the flow of blood to the heart most often blocked?

Answer 4

by a build-up of fat, cholesterol and other substances, which form a plaque in the arteries that feed the heart

Question 5

what can the interrupted blood flow result in?

Answer 5

damage or destroying of the heart muscle

Question 6

how many cases of MI occur annually approximately?

Answer 6

1.5 million

Question 7

what are the MI characteristic ECG changes?

Answer 7

large peaked T waves
ST elevation
negative T waves
pathologic Q waves develop

Question 8

how is a diagnosis of MI created?

Answer 8

by integrating the history of the presenting illness and physical examination with ECG findings and cardiac markers

Question 9

what does a coronary angiogram allow?

Answer 9

visualisation of narrowing or obstructions on the heart vessels, and therapeutic measures can follow immediately

Question 10

state 3 manifestations which ischaemic complications of MI can lead to

Answer 10

angina
reinfarction
infarct extension

Question 11

state 5 manifestations mechanical complications of Mi can lead to

Answer 11

heart failure
cardiogenic shock
mitral valve dysfunction
aneurysms
cardiac rupture

Question 12

state 4 manifestations arrhythmic complications of MI can lead to

Answer 12

atrial arrhythmias
ventricular arrhythmias
sinus node dysfunction
atrioventricular node dysfunction

Question 13

what is thrombolytic therapy?

Answer 13

it is the use of drugs that dissolve blood clots basically

Question 14

what is the major side effect of thrombolytic therapy?

Answer 14

bleeding

haemorrhage

Question 15

what is the function of thrombolytic drugs?

Answer 15

they dissolve clots quickly

Question 16

how do thrombolytics help?

Answer 16

they help to restart blood flow to heart and help to prevent damage to the heart muscle

Question 17

describe aspirin therapy of MI

Answer 17

aspirin therapy reduces the clumping action of platelets - possibly preventing a heart attack, aspirin interferes with your blood’s clotting action

Question 18

when can aspirin be used as acute therapy

Answer 18

following:
acute coronary syndrome
thrombotic stroke
Kawasaki’s disease

Question 19

what does aspirin decrease

Answer 19

mortality and recurrence of cardiovascular events

Question 20

what are the diagnostic methods of MI

Answer 20

electrocardiograms
blood tests
coronary angiography

Question 21

what is the treatment of MI

Answer 21

percutaneous coronary intervention

thrombolysis

Question 22

state the medication for MI

Answer 22

aspirin
nitroglycerin
heparin

Question 23

what is the use of low dose aspirin

Answer 23

it is a blood thinning medicine and prevents the formation of blood clots

Question 24

what does low dose aspirin help prevent?

Answer 24

heart attacks and strokes in people at high risk of them

Question 25

what is a weakness of low dose aspirin?

Answer 25

some people have serious side effects after taking low dose aspirin

Question 26

what are side effects of low dose aspirin

Answer 26

red, blistered and peeling skin
coughing up of blood
blood in your urine, faeces or vomit
yellow skin or eyes
painful joints in the hands

Question 27

state the role of beta blockers in the prevention of angina

Answer 27

they tend to decrease cardiovascular events

Question 28

what are ACE inhibitors used for?

Answer 28

secondary prevention of MI

Question 29

what do ACE inhibitors do?

Answer 29

they prevent the formation of the active peptide, angiotensin II, therefore, they reduce cardiac preload and after load without causing reflex tachycardia