Cardiac Emergencies

Question 1

Acute coronary syndrome

Answer 1

symptoms are caused by myocardial ischemia (poor blood supply)
- includes angina pectoris and acute myocardial infarction

Question 2

when does angina usually occur

Answer 2

during periods of physical activity or stress

Question 3

how long does angina usually last

Answer 3

no more than 10 minutes

Question 4

acute myocardial infarction (AMI) signs

Answer 4

chest pain, nausea, weakness, impending doom

Question 5

angina vs. MI

Answer 5

MI pain does not go away in a few minutes, can occur at any time, and is usually not helped by rest, oxygen, or nitroglycerin

Question 6

orthopnea

Answer 6

difficulty breathing when lying down

Question 7

left vs right ventricular failure

Answer 7

left = blood backs up into the lungs; signs include pulmonary edema.

right = blood backs up into the venous system that feeds into the heart; signs include jugular venous distention (JVD), pedal edema

Question 8

what is considered high blood pressure

Answer 8

> 140/90

Question 9

ischemic strokes

Answer 9

blood flow is compromised due to a blockage (usually atherosclerosis)

Question 10

hemorrhagic strokes

Answer 10

caused by bleeding in the brain; often fatal

Question 11

Cincinnati prehospital stroke scale

Answer 11

• facial droop
• arm drift
• speech (abnormal is slurred)

Question 12

transient ischemic attack (TIA)

Answer 12

mini strokes, can be a warning sign of an impending stroke

- same presentation as CVAs (cerebrovascular accident) but symptoms correct within 24 hours with no permanent damage

Question 13

grand mal seizure

Answer 13

patient is unresponsive and experiences full body convulsions

Question 14

absence seizures

Answer 14

patient doesn’t interact with environment, but no convulsive activity

Question 15

status epilepticus

Answer 15

prolonged seizure (>30 min) or reoccuring seizures without patient gaining consciousness in between 
very dangerous; leading to permanent brain damage and death

Question 16

normal blood glucose levels

Answer 16

80 to 120 mg/dl (120 to 140mg/dl is not unusual after eating)

Question 17

hypoglycemia blood glucose levels

Answer 17

<60 mg/dl with symptoms; <50 mg/dl without symptoms

Question 18

hyperglycemia blood glucose levels

Answer 18

sustained level of >120 mg/dl

Question 19

three “p’s” of untreated diabetic emergencies

Answer 19

polyuria - excessive urination due to excess glucose
polydipsia - excessive thirst due to dehydration
polyphagia - excessive hunger due to cell starvation

Question 20

what can happen in hypoglycemia

Answer 20

altered consciousness, seizures, coma, brain death

Question 21

insulin shock

Answer 21

severe hypoglycemia with signs and symptoms

Question 22

which causes more rapid symptoms - hypoglycemia or hyperglycemia?

Answer 22

hypoglycemia

Question 23

diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) blood glucose level

Answer 23

routinely >350 mg/dl

Question 24

signs of DKA

Answer 24

• > 350 mg/dl
• kussmaul respirations (deep, rapid breaths)
• 3 p’s (polydipsia, polyphagia, polyuria)
• unusual breath odor
• incontinence
• tachycardia
• coma

Question 25

what threatens the brain during DKA

Answer 25

Acidosis, not lack of glucose

Question 26

does anaphylaxis causes broncho______ and vaso________

Answer 26

bronchoconstriction and vasodilation

Question 27

does anaphylaxis cause hypo or hyper tension?

Answer 27

hypotension!

Question 28

narcotics tend to cause dilated or constricted pupils?

Answer 28

constricted

Question 29

can you give someone with caustic or hydrocarbon injection activated charcoal?

Answer 29

No, it is contraindicated

Question 30

appendicitis is pain in which quadrant

Answer 30

right lower quadrant

Question 31

peritonitis and symptoms

Answer 31

inflammation of the peritoneum (membrane lining abdominal organs and cavity)
symptoms = nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, diarrhea, fever

Question 32

cholecystitis & risk factors

Answer 32

inflammation of the gallbladder

- most often in women 30-50

Question 33

cholecystitis symptoms

Answer 33

right upper quadrant pain, increased pain at night, pain from fatty foods, referred pain to the shoulder

Question 34

diverticulitis and symptoms

Answer 34

pouches along intestine, can get infected. lower left quadrant pain

Question 35

esophageal varices and symptoms

Answer 35

weakening of blood vessels lining the esophagus, associated with alcoholism
- vomiting lots of bright red blood

Question 36

abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) and symptoms

Answer 36

weakening of wall of aorta in the abdominal wall; most common in geriatric males
- tearing back pain
- signs of hypovolemic shock
- possible pulsating abdominal mass 
TRANSPORT IMMEDIATELY

Question 37

Postical state

Answer 37

begins when a seizure subsides and ends when the patient returns to baseline

Question 38

Triad of trauma

Answer 38

hypothermia, acidosis, and coagulopathy

Question 39

Is JVD a sign of pediatric respiratory failure?

Answer 39

No, sign of pediatric heart failure