Cardiac Interventions Flashcards
what is electrical cardioversion?
a procedure aimed at restoring normal sinus rhythm
done electrically or pharmacologically
PT implications for electrical cardioversion
withhold care for 24 hours or until the pt can tolerate activity
Briefly compare/contrast cardioversion and defibrillation
- Cardioversion
- elective procedure
- pt awake & frequently sedated
- synchronized with QRS
- 50-200 joules
- consent required
- Defibrillation
- emergency procedure
- V-Fib/V-Tach
- no CO
- begin w/200 joules (up to 360)
- pt unconscious
what are coronary artery stents?
small expandable tubes used to open up narrowed arteries including coronary arteries, femoral artery, and carotid
what is the procedure of inserting a stent called?
PCI
percutaneous coronary intervention
what other procedures are included in the umbrella term PCI?
- angioplasty
- atherectomy
- stenting
what are the results of coronary artery stent placement?
- reduced symptoms (like chest pain)
- increased blood flow
- helps keep vessels open and prevent subsequent problems/MIs
after the placement of a stent what are patients placed on?
- aspirin → for life
- antiplatelet drugs → pt dependent
what are stents usually made of?
metal mesh
two types: drug-eluting stent and bare metal stent
what is a drug-eluting stent?
a stent that slow releases a drug to block cell proliferation
Describe the procedure for stent placement
- light sedation (valium, versed, or morphine)
- peripheral access route thread a catheter to the location of blockage
- Balloon expanded to fit the stent in place
- pt may experience brief angina
- considered successful if lumen is open after catheter is withdrawn
how long does the procedure take to place a stent? How long are pts in the hospital?
- lasts 30 minute - 2 hours
- most pts are D/C home the day after PCI
List risks/complications of coronary artery stents
- Bleeding if arterial wall is perforated
- CVA → if plaque is dislodged by catheter
- clot formation
- restenosis
- scar tissue or plaque can also form in the area of the stent
- requires anti-coagulation therapy → bleeding risk
- arrhytmias
- kidney damage from dye
- allergy to dye
T/F: Stents are safe under MRI
TRUE
most if not all are safe up to 3 Tesla and made of nonferromagnetic materials
T/F: stents treat the underlying cause of angina
FALSE
only one area of a narrowed artery and not the underlying condition
arteries can narrow and new blockages can occur
Coronary stent prognosis
- stents tend to damage the artery wall and increase risk of secondary obstruction
- 60% of all stented coronary stents require restenting
- PCI was no better at relieving angina symptoms than OMT
- appear to increase postoperative bleeding, MIs, and CVAs compared to no trx
- pts recieving stents go back to their bad habit afterwards
coronary artery stent implications for PT
- care with incision site/bleeding
- cardiac rehab candidate
describe a balloon angioplasty
- tiny balloon is deflated and guided through the artery to the blockage
- inflated to widen the opening and increase blood flow to the heart
- stent often placed during procedure
what is an atherectomy?
- catheter with sharp blade attached
- inserted into artery
- sharp blade removes plaque from a blood vessel
- used to treat blockages in arteries that are not easily treated with stents
- risk for an embolus from dislodged debris
Benefits of an atherectomy
- minimally invasive procedure
- short recovery time
- small incision
- less pain
- less scaring
- reduced blood loss
list surgical treatments for cardiac diseases
- CABG
- off pump CABG
- Minimally invasive CABG
- Valve replacement/repair
- Cardiac Ablation
- Aortic Aneurysm Repair
- Intra-aortic balloon pump
what is a CABG?
Coronary Artery Bypass Graft
- is a surgical procedure used to restore normal blood flow to an obstructed coronary artery
List reasons for CABGs
- to relieve angina unsatisfactorily controlled by max tolerated anti-ischemic meds
- prevent or relieve left ventricular dysfunction
- reduce the risk of death
list vascular donor sites for CABGs
- saphenous vein
- internal mammary arteries
- radial artery