Cardiovascular Disorders

Question 1

What is cardiac tamponade?

Answer 1

Increased pericardial pressure compresses the heart due to the buildup of blood from bleeding or backing up in mediastinal tubes. BP is higher on expiration than inspiration.
Common causes: Angioplasty complication
S/Sx: hypotension, JVD, muffled heart sounds, paradoxical pulse (pulsus paradoxus with inspiration/expiration), pulmonary HTN
Tx: pericardiocentesis, symptom management (hypotension - IV fluids). Monitor hemodynamics/vitals.

Question 2

What are the signs and symptoms of peripheral artery disease?

Answer 2

absent pedal pulses
hair loss
skin atrophy
red ulcers

Question 3

What is a possible diagnosis of shortness of breath and coughing frothy, pink sputum?

Answer 3

pulmonary edema

Question 4

What are the signs and symptoms of pulmonary edema?

Answer 4

shortness of breath
frothy, pink sputum
coarse crackles

Question 4

What are the signs and symptoms of pulmonary edema?

Answer 4

shortness of breath
frothy, pink sputum
coarse crackles

Question 5

What are common manifestations of MI in clients aged 65 or older?

Answer 5

acute confusion
nausea, vomiting
dyspnea
diaphoresis
anxiety
dizziness
palpitations
fatigue

Question 6

DIfference between stable and unstable anginas.

Answer 6

stable: <5 min, relief with rest or nitroglycerin, precipitated by certain factors
unstable: >15 min, no relief with rest or nitroglycerin, precipitated by certain factors

Question 6

DIfference between stable, variant, and unstable anginas.

Answer 6

stable: <5 min, relief with rest or nitroglycerin, precipitated by certain factors
variant: occurs at rest, at the same time daily. Caused by vasospasms and results in decreased oxygen to the myocardium. Can cause changes to ECG.
unstable: >15 min, no relief with rest or nitroglycerin, precipitated by certain factors

Question 7

Signs and symptoms of DVT

Answer 7

hardening along the blood vessel
prominence of superficial veins
tenderness in calf
increased leg circumference

Question 8

What are the signs and symptoms of peripheral venous disease?

Answer 8

pitting edema
reddish-brown pigmentation
sunburned appearance
desquamation/peeling skin

Question 9

While receiving a transfusion of RBCs, the patient experiences fever, hypotension, and oliguria. What type of reaction is the patient experiencing?

Answer 9

acute hemolytic reaction
S/Sx: oliguria, hemoglobinuria, circulatory shock, hypotension, tachypnea, tachycardia, fever, impending sense of doom, lower back pain

Question 10

reperfusion therapy

Answer 10

use of thrombolytics or angioplasty to restore blood flow to a coronary artery after STEMI.
success indicated by ventricular dysrhythmia (tachycardia)

Question 11

Endocarditis

Answer 11

inflammation or infection of the endocardium
- complications: valve disease
Tx: antibiotics

Question 12

digoxin

Answer 12

inotropic treatment for heart failure = increases EF, decreases blood pressure, vasodilation

digoxin toxicity >2.4 ng/dL
- normal: 0.8-2 ng/dL
- S/Sx: N/V, hyperkalemia, bradydysrhythmia, ventricular tachycardia

Question 13

dilated cardiomyopathy

Answer 13

aka: heart failure d/t thinning and stretching of ventricular muscles
etiology: coronary artery disease
S/Sx: dyspnea on exertion, weight gain, fluid retention, dysrhythmia, S3 gallop