Cardiovascular 3 Flashcards
when we check a pulse what are we looking for?
rate rhythm and character
what is a regular pulse called?
sinus rhythm
what is an arrhythmia ?
- irregular heartbeat starting elsewhere or a problem with circulatory of the heart
what are the causes of arrhythmias?
congenital, scar tissue or electrolyte imbalance
what is the condition called when there’s a fast heartbeat coming from the atria or AVN?
Supraventricular tachycardia (above ventricles)
what is a fast irregular heartbeat called?
atrial fibrillation
name the condition where tachycardia originates from ventricles?
ventricular tachycardia
what happens if the pt experiences irregular chaotic heartbeat specifically from the ventricles ?
ventricular fibrillation leading to cardiac arrest
what does cardioversion do?
tachyarrhythmia can be reversed by cardioversions which delivers a shock to rest the heart.
what is the success rate for cardioversion ?
low as it sometimes doesn’t work therefore pt needs med to maximise the time that the heart has to refill between beats
what is a bradyarrhytmia?
slow irregular heartbeat
give egs of bradyarrhythmia
sinus bradycardia
sick sinus syndrome
heart block
ventricular escape
what is a heart block?
-conduction issue at AVN or bundle of his
- causes excessive delay between atrial and ventricular conduction (contraction) hence causes a slow beat
what happens if there’s no conduction? what is it called?
ventricles have their own slow regular rhythm - ventricular escape
what is the CO like in a Bradyarrhythmia ?
low due to low heart rate
what is CO like in tacharrhytmia?
low due to reduced stroke volume
Location of AF?
- rhythm of the heart originating somewhere in the atria but not SAN
how does AF occur?
- discoordinated fibrillation at atria with some electricity conducted down to ventricles but not all of it as its too fast and the time needed for cells to repolarise before being able to conduct another impulse leads to some of electricity conduction down to ventricles - irregular pulse
describe the blood flow of someone that has AF?
clots more
if someone with AF has a clot formation which moves into circulatory system, where will this clot go to first?
brain leading to stroke
what will someone with AF be prescribed with?
anticoagulant (DOAC)
used to be warfarin
what is a DOAC?
direct oral anticoagulant
how do DOAC’s work?
different mechanism on where it acts in Coagulation cascade depending on the drug
compare DOAC to warfarin
- DOAC doesn’t need monitoring whereas warfarin does (need to get regular blood tests to make sure u have right level of anticoagulants)
- food interactions with W
- DOAC is more stable
- DOAC isn’t easily reversed compared to W (need to keep in mind if procedure has high bleeding risk)
why is rate control important in a fast atrial fibrillation?
- to allow heart to have time to fully refill and preserve SV and CO
list all the anti-dysrhythmic
Class 1,2,3,4 and glycosides
how do class 1 drugs work?
stabilise the membrane eg. procainamide, quinidine, lidocaine, flecainide
how do class 2 drugs work?
beta blockers eg. bisoprolol
how do class 3 drugs work?
acts on potassium channels eg. amidarone
how do class 4 drugs work?
ca channel blockers
give an eg of glycosides
digoxin
when would we avoid certain LA’s like bupivacaine (cardio toxic) ?
- if pt is on anti arrhythmic meds
- have loads of side effects
syncope?
- temp reduced perfusion to the brain
- a drop in CO
- type of loss of consciousness
what are the 2 types of syncope?
bengin and red flag
compare benign and red flag
what happens if someone has a red flag syncopal episode ?
call 999
stenosis?
heart valves become stiff
can’t open as well
heart has to beat forcefully to fight resistance
regurgitation?
valves become floppy
blood goes backwards thru the valves
blood ejected more than once thru changer due to regurgitation
blood
therefore larger volumes of blood for each heart beat
heart has to complete larger contraction to push onwards