Cardiovascular assessment Flashcards
Key functions of the circulatory system?
Supply the body’s cells with oxygen and nutrients.
Remove metabolic waste from the body.
Which circulatory system component is responsible for these functions?
The capillaries.
Why does dyspnoea and/or pink frothy sputum occur?
Blood “backs up” in the pulmonary veins as the heart can’t keep up with the supply.
Why do night sweats occur?
Arteries may become clogged and your heart is forced to overwork. As a result, your body sweats to lower the body’s temperature.
Why does syncope/dizziness occur?
The brain is not perfused because the heart is failing to generate enough cardiac output to send freshly oxygenated blood to the brain.
Why does angina occur?
Blood flow to the heart is impaired.
What happens to the deoxygenated blood during the cardiac cycle?
Deoxygenated blood returns from the body and into the superior & inferior vena cava.
Where does the deoxygenated blood travel to after reaching the superior & inferior vena cava?
Deoxygenated blood travels to the right atrium, through the tricuspid valve and into the right ventricle.
What happens to the deoxygenated blood when it reaches the right ventricle?
The right ventricle contracts, ejecting blood through the pulmonary trunk which branches to the left & right pulmonary arteries.
Where does the blood travel to after reaching the pulmonary arteries?
It goes to the lungs to become oxygenated and returns to the left atrium via the pulmonary veins.
What happens to the oxygenated blood after reaching the left atrium?
It travels through the bicuspid valve and to the left ventricle.
What happens to the oxygenated blood after reaching the left ventricle?
The left ventricle contracts, ejecting blood through the aorta, aortic arch (neck & head), and to the rest of the body.
How are normal heart sounds caused?
By the closure of the heart valves.
S1 (first heart sound) is caused by…?
Caused by the closure of the tricuspid and bicuspid valves.
What does the closure of the tricuspid and bicuspid valve indicate?
The start of ventricular systole, and the peripheral pulse is felt simultaneously or just after.
S2 (second heart sound) is caused by….?
Is caused by the closure of the pulmonary and aortic valves.
What does the closure of the pulmonary and aortic valves indicate?
Marks the end of the ventricular systole and the start of the diastole.
Inspiration causes what to happen to the pulmonary valve?
Closure of the pulmonary valve just after the aortic valve is prolonged during inspiration.
Also in defects that may cause more blood to be ejected by the right ventricle.
FOCUSSED HISTORY
Area of assessment:
Cough / sputum production
Normal findings:
Clear sputum
Abnormal findings:
???
Abnormal findings:
Pink frothy sputum associated with pulmonary oedema
FOCUSSED HISTORY
Area of assessment:
Fever / chills
Normal findings:
Normal body temperature between 36.1 to 37.2
Abnormal findings:
???
Abnormal findings:
Elevated temperature associated with endocarditis (inflammation of inner lining of heart) or potential sepsis
FOCUSSED HISTORY
Area of assessment:
Palpitations
Normal findings:
None present
Abnormal findings:
???
Abnormal findings:
Palpitations present associated with arrhythmia (irregular heartbeat)
Area of assessment:
Breathlessness
Normal findings:
Normal breathing
Abnormal findings:
???
Abnormal findings:
Increased respiratory rate caused by over exertion or exercise.
FOCUSSED HISTORY
Area of assessment:
Chest pain / discomfort
Normal findings:
No pain present
Abnormal findings:
???
Abnormal findings:
Chest pain radiating to the shoulders, neck and arms
FOCUSSED HISTORY
Area of assessment:
Dizziness / syncope
Normal findings:
None present
Abnormal findings:
???
Can be present due to anaemia, low oxygen, low perfusion to the brain.
