CARDIOVASCULAR DISORDERS Flashcards
VARICOSE VEINS
Defined as: a vein in which blood has pooled, producing distended, tortuous, and palpable vessels.. Usually involves the saphenous vein..
Risk factors
- increased risk as you Age
- more often Female gender
- usually a family hx
- Obesity
- Pregnancy
- a DVT
- Constricting clothing like wearing leggings all the time
- Crossing legs
- Diminishing action of the muscle pump
- Standing for long periods of time
Complications
- Chronic venous insufficiency
- Venous stasis ulcers
Treatments
- Compression socks
- Elevating legs
- Physical exercise
- May need surgical interventions
PHLEBITIS
Defined as: the acute inflammation of a vein and is characterised by pain, tenderness, swelling, and redness around the affected area
Thrombophlebitis: inflammation caused by a thrombus (blood clot)
Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT): thrombophlebitis occurring in the deeper leg veins
Cause:
- Blood clots (causing lower limb phlebitis)
- IV insertions (causing upper limb phlebitis)
Risk factors
Virchow’s triad: 1) blood stasis in the veins, 2) hypercoagulation, and 3) damage to the endothelial layer of the blood vessels – what are examples of these?
Clinical
- Pain, redness, swelling and warmth at the site
- Can see palpable lumps
- DVT – loss of circulation distal to the clot
– period of cyanosis
Complications
- Pulmonary embolisms (DVT is a major risk)
- Sepsis
Treatments
- NSAIDs, acetaminophen
- Anticoagulants
ACUTE PERICARDITIS
Defined as: an acute inflammation of the pericardium.
Idiopathic or viral infection by coxsackie, influenza, hepatitis, measles, mumps, or varicella
Complications: pericardial effusion(the buildup of too much fluid in the double-layered, saclike structure around the heart (pericardium))
S/Ss: severe retrosternal chest pain
– worsens with respirations
- and recumbent position,
- can radiate into back
- Dysphagia
- Restlessness
- Irritability
- Anxiety
- Weakness
- Malaise
- Fever
- Tachycardia
ECG changes: widespread elevation without Q waves & PR segment depression
Treatments: NSAIDs
PLEURAL EFFUSION
Defined as: the accumulation of fluid in the pericardial cavity and can occur in all forms of pericarditis.
Can be Idiopathic or infection
Complication: pericardial tamponade(happens when the pericardium fills with fluid (usually pericardial fluid or blood). Because the fluid has nowhere to go)
CARDIAC MYOPATHIES
Disease that affects the myocardium, caused by:
- Infection
- Idiopathic
- Ischemia
- HTN
- Systemic inflammatory disorders
Types:
- Dilated cardiomyopathy
- Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
- Restrictive cardiomyopathy
DILATED CARDIOMYOPATHY
Result from:
- Ischemic heart disease,
- valvular disease,
- diabetes,
- renal failure,
- alcohol or drug toxicity,
- peripartum complications,(weak pregnant woman heart)
- or infection.
Characterized by:
- Impaired systolic function leading to increases in
intracardiac volume,
- ventricular dilation,
- and heart failure with reduced ejection fraction.
S/Ss:
Dyspnea,
fatigue,
pedal edema,
JVD,
pulmonary congestion
HYPERTROPHIC CARDIOMYOPATHY
1) Hypertrophic obstructive
- An inherited cardiac disorder that is characterized by
thickening of the septal wall
- Could lead to outflow obstruction to the left ventricle
outflow tract
- At risk for dysrhythmias
2) Hypertensive & valvular hypertrophic cardiomyopathies
- The most common
- Occur due to increased resistance to ventricular ejection
(pts with HTN or valvular stenosis) – compensate for
increasing myocardial workload
- Complain of angina, syncope, dyspnea on exertion, and
palpitations
- Leads to a diastolic dysfunction and then eventually
systolic dysfunction
RESTRICTIVE CARDIOMYOPATHY
AKA amyloid cardiomyopathy – as cause can be amyloidosis(a rare disease that occurs when a protein called amyloid builds up in organs.)
Characterized by: restrictive filling and increased diastolic pressure of either or both ventricles with normal or near normal systolic function and wall thickness.
- Heart wall becomes rigid and noncompliant
Can lead to:
- right-sided heart failure
- systemic venous congestion
- cardiomegaly
- dysrhythmias
STENOSIS
Defined as: the valve opening being constricted and narrowed, so blood cannot flow forward and the workload of the cardiac chamber proximal to the diseased valve increases.
Aortic vs. Mitral
Heart sounds: systolic murmur hears best at right parasternal second intercostal space and radiating to the neck
REGURGITATION
Defined as: when the valve leaflets, or cusps, fail to shut completely, permitting blood flow to continue even when the valve is presumably closed.
Aortic vs. Mitral vs. Tricupsid
Heart sounds: diastolic murmur heard best at right parasternal second intercostal space and radiating to neck
PROLAPSE SYNDROME
Characterized as: when one or both of the cusps of the mitral valve billow upward (prolapse) into the left atrium during systole
S/Ss:
- typical asymptomatic
- palpitations related to dysrhythmias
- tachycardia
- lightheadedness
- dyspnea
- fatigue/lethargy
- syncope
- chest tightness
- weakness
- anxiety
- atypical chest pain
INFECTIVE ENDOCARDITIS
Caused by: infection of streptococci, staphylococci, and enterococci
Patho: endocardial damage, adherence of blood-borne microorganisms to the damaged endothelial surface, and formation of infective endocardial vegetations
S/Ss:
- fever
- new cardiac murmur
- petechial lesions of the skin
- conjunctiva
- oral mucous
- back pain
- night sweats
- heart failure
- osler nodes
- janeway lesions
- emboli
Complications: stroke, abscess, and meningitis
Treated with: antibiotics
LEFT VENTRICULAR RUPTURE
Commonly occur with acute MIs
Bleeding from the rupture is what is dangerous, can have multiple causes
Complications: cardiac tamponade and hemothorax
HEART FAILURE
Defined as: when the heart is unable to generate an adequate cardiac output, causing inadequate perfusion of tissues or increased diastolic filling of the ventricles, so that pulmonary capillary pressures are increased
Predisposing factors: ischemic heart disease & HTN
