Cardiac Emergencies

Question 1

Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation

Answer 1

(CPR) actions taken to revive a person by keeping the persons heart and lungs working

Question 2

Defibrillation

Answer 2

delivery of an electronical shock to stop the fibrillation of heart muscles and restore a normal heart rhythm

Question 3

Cardiovascular system

Answer 3

the heart and the blood vessels

Question 4

Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS)

Answer 4

Cardiac Compromise

blanket term used to represent any symptoms related to lack of oxygen (ischemia) in the heart muscle.

Question 5

Signs and symptoms of Acute Coronary Syndrome

Answer 5

wide variety, most can result from problems that have nothing to do with the heart. many patients complain of pain in the center of the chest, others may have only mild chest discomfort or no pain at all. some difficulty breathing, some have sudden onset of sweating, nausea, and vomiting.

Question 6

Treatment of Acute Coronary Syndrome

Answer 6

treat patient as though they are having a heart problem

Question 7

Dyspnea

Answer 7

shortness of breath; labored or difficult breathing

Question 8

Bradycardia

Answer 8

heart rate is slow, usually below 60 beats per minute

Question 9

Tachycardia

Answer 9

heart rate fast, above 100 beats per minute

Question 10

Coronary Artery Disease

Answer 10

when the coronary arteries are narrowed or blocked, blood flow is reduced, reducing amount of oxygen delivered to the heart. result of buildup of fatty deposits on the inner walls of arteries causing narrowing of the inner vessel diameter

Question 11

Coronary arteries

Answer 11

supplies the heart with oxygenated blood

Question 12

Thrombus

Answer 12

clot formed of blood and plaque attached to the inner wall of an artery or vein

Question 13

occlusion

Answer 13

blockage as of an artery by fatty deposits

Question 14

embolism

Answer 14

blockage of a vessel by a clot or foreign material brought to the site by the blood current

Question 15

Risk of developing CAD

Answer 15

heredity and age

hypertension, obesity, lack of exercise, elevated blood levels of cholesterol and triglycerides, and cigarette smoking

Question 16

Signs and Symptoms of CAD

Answer 16

chest pain, cardiac arrest (angina pectoris-chest pain)

Question 17

Aneurysm

Answer 17

dilation, or ballooning of a weakened section of the wall of an artery
most common sites of aneurysms are the aorta and the brain

Question 18

Dysrhythmia

Answer 18

a disturbance in heart rate and rhythm

Question 19

In cardiac arrest…

Answer 19

rhythms that may be present when there is no pulse including ventricular fibrillation, ventricular tachycardia, pulseless electrical activity, and asystole

Question 20

Angina Pectoris

Answer 20

pain in the chest, occurring when blood supply to the heart is reduced and a portion of the heart muscle is not receiving enough O2

Question 21

Acute Myocardial Infarction

Answer 21

condition in which a portion of the myocardium dies as a result of oxygen starvation; often called a heart attack

Question 22

Sudden Death

Answer 22

cardiac arrest that occurs within 2 hours of the onset symptoms. the patient may have no prior symptoms of coronary artery disease

Question 23

Congestive Heart Failure

Answer 23

failure of the heart to pump efficiently, leading to excessive blood or fluid in the lungs, body,or both

Question 24

Signs and Symptoms of CHF

Answer 24

tachycardia
dysnea
normal or elevated blood pressure
cyanosis
Diaphoresis (profuse sweating) or cool and clammy skin
pulmonary edema
anxiety or confusion due to hypoxia
pedal edema
engorged, pulsation neck veins (late sign)
enlarged liver and spleen with abdominal distortion (late sign)

Question 25

Chain of Survival for Cardiac Arrest

Answer 25

Immediate recognition and activation
early CPR
Rapid defibrillation 
effective advanced life support
integrated post- cardiac arrest care

Question 26

Ventricular Fibrillation (VF)

Answer 26

condition in which the heart’s electrical impulses are disorganized, preventing the heart muscle from contracting normally

Question 27

Ventricular Tachycardia (V-tach)

Answer 27

condition in which the heartbeat is quite rapid; if rapid enough, ventricular tachycardia will not allow the heart’s chambers to fill with enough blood between beats to produce blood flow sufficient to meet the body’s needs

Question 28

Pulseless electrical activity (PEA)

Answer 28

condition in which the heart’s electrical rhythm remains relatively normal, yet the mechanical pumping activity fails to follow the electrical activity, causing cardiac arrest

Question 29

asystole

Answer 29

condition in which the heart has ceased generating electrical impulses