Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

ems > Cardiovascular Emergencies > Flashcards

Cardiovascular Emergencies Flashcards

chapter 17

1
Q

atrium

A

one of the two upper chambers of the ♡

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

ventricle

A

one of the two lower chambers of the ♡

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

aorta

A

the main artery, which receives blood from the left ventricle and delivers it to all the other arteries that carry blood to the tissues of the body

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

automaticity

A

the ability of cardiac muscle cells to contract without stimulation from the nervous system

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

automatic nervous system

A

the part of the nervous system that controls the involuntary activities of the body such as the ♡ rate, blood pressure, and digestion of food

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

sympathetic nervous system

A

the part of the autonomic nervous system that controls active functions such as responding to fear (also known as the fight-or-flight system)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

parasympathetic nervous system

A

the part of the autonomic nervous system that controls vegetative functions such as digestion of food and relaxation

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

myocardium

A

the ♡ muscle

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

dilation

A

widening of a tubular structure such as a coronary artery

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

coronary arteries

A

the blood vessels that carry blood and nutrients to the ♡ muscle

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

aortic valve

A

the one-way valve that lies between the left ventricle and the aorta and keeps blood from flowing back into the left ventricle after the left ventricle ejects its blood into the aorta

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

anterior

A

the front surface of the body; the side facing you in the standard anatomic position

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

posterior

A

the back surface of the body; the side away from you in the standard anatomic position

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

superior

A

above a body part

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

inferior

A

below a body part

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

cardiac output

A

a measure of the volume of blood circulated by the ♡ in 1 minute, calculated by multiplying the stroke volume by the ♡ rate

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

perfusion

A

the circulation of oxygenated blood within an organ or tissue in adequate amounts to meet the cells current needs

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

ischemia

A

a lack of oxygen that deprives tissues of necessary nutrients, resulting from partial or complete blockage of blood flow; potentially reversible because permanent injury has not yet occurred

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

atherosclerosis

A

a disorder in which cholesterol and calcium build up inside the walls of blood vessels, eventually leading to partial or complete blockage of blood flow

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

occlusion

A

a blockage, usually of a tubular structure such as a blood vessel

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

lumen

A

the inside diameter of an artery or other hollow structure

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

thromboembolism

A

a blood clot that has formed within a blood vessel and is floating within the blood stream

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

acute myocardial infarction (AMI)

A

a ♡ attack; death of ♡ muscle following obstruction of blood flow to it. “acute” in this context means “new” or “happening right now”
- the complete blockage of a coronary artery

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

infarction

A

death of a body tissue, usually caused by interruption of its blood supply

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
Q

cardiac arrest

A

when the ♡ fails to generate effective and detectable blood flow; pulse are not palpable in cardiac arrest, even if muscular and electrical activity continues in the ♡
- a lack of cardiac activity

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
26
Q

acute coronary syndrome (ACS)

A

a group of symptoms caused by myocardial ischema; includes angina and myocardial infarction

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
27
Q

angina pectoris

A

transient (short lived) chest discomfort caused by partial or temporary blockage of blood flow to the ♡ muscle; also called angina
- exertional chest pain, relieved by nitroglycerin

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
28
Q

syncope

A

fainting spell or transient loss of consciousness

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
29
Q

dysrhythmia

A

an irregular or abnormal ♡ rhythm

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
30
Q

tachycardia

A

a rapid ♡ rate, more than 100 beats/min

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
31
Q

bradycardia

A

a slow ♡ rate, less than 60 beats/min

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
32
Q

ventricular tachycardia

A

a rapid ♡ rhythm in which the electrical impulse begins in the ventricle (instead of the atria), which may result in inadequate blood flow and eventually deteriorate into cardiac arrest

33
Q

ventricular fibrillation

A

disorganized, ineffective quivering of the ventricles, resulting in no blood flow and a state of cardiac arrest

34
Q

defibrillate

A

to shock a fibrillating (chaotically shaking) ♡ with specialized electric current in an attempt to restore a normal, rhythmic beat

35
Q

asystole

A

the complete absence of all ♡ electrical activity

36
Q

cardiogenic shock

A

a state in which not enough oxygen is delivered to the tissues of the body, caused by low output of blood from the ♡. it can be severe complication of a large mycardial infarction, as well as other conditions
- the ♡ lacks power to effectively pump blood to the body, resulting in low blood pressure

37
Q

congestive heart failure (CHF)

A

a disorder in which the ♡ loses part of its ability to effectively pump blood, usually as a result of damage to the ♡ muscle and usually resulting in a backup of fluid into the lungs
- a condition where the ♡ cannot effectively pump blood, leading to fluid backing up into the lungs and edema (swelling)

38
Q

dependent edema

A

swelling in the part of the body closest to the ground, caused by collection of fluid in the tissues; a possible sign of congestive ♡ failure

39
Q

hypertensive emergency

A

an emergency situation created by excessively high blood pressure, which can lead to serious complications such as stroke or aneurysm
- systolid blood pressure greater than 180 mm Hg

40
Q

aortic aneurysm

A

a weakness in the wall of the aorta that makes it susceptible to rupture

41
Q

dissecting aneurysm

A

a condition in which the inner layers of an artery, such as the aorta, become separated, allowing blood (at high pressures) to flow between the layers
- the sudden tearing and separation of the inner layers of the aorta, with the potential for great blood loss

42
Q

artifact

A

a tracing on an ECG that is the result of interference, such as patient movement, rather than the heart’s electrical activity

43
Q

return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC)

A

the return of a pulse and effective blood flow to the body in a patient who previously was in cardiac arrest

44
Q

atrioventricular node

A

electrical impulses slow here to allow blood to move from the atria to the ventricles

45
Q

sinus node

A

electrical impulses begin here

46
Q

what is the upper chamber of the ♡ called?

A

atrium

47
Q

what is the lower part of the atrium called?

A

ventricle

48
Q

what is the aortic valve and where does it lie?

A

it is the ♡ valve that keeps blood moving through the circulatory system in the proper direction. it lies between the left ventricle and the aorta

49
Q

what does the heart’s electrical system control?

A

the ♡ rate and it helps the atria and ventricles work together to pump the blood

50
Q

when does the myocardium require more oxygen?

A

during periods of exertion or stress

51
Q

how is oxygen supplied?

A

by dilation of the coronary arteries, increasing blood flow

52
Q

what are the common places to feel for a pulse?

A

the carotid, femoral, brachial, radial, posterior tibial, and dorsalis pedis arteries

53
Q

what is low blood flow to the ♡ usually caused by?

A

coronary artery atherosclerosis, a disease in which cholesterol plaques build up inside blood vessels, eventually occluding them

54
Q

Describe how a ♡ attack occurs

A

a blood clot causes a ♡ tissue downstream which suffers from a lack of oxygen and within 30 minutes will begin to die

55
Q

what causes the pain called angina?

A

♡ tissues that are not getting enough oxygen but are not yet dying. it can last up to several hours and is not relieved by rest or nitroglycerin. this is different from the pain of an AMI (♡ attack)

56
Q

other than crushing chest pain, what are some other signs of AMI?

A

sudden onset of weakness, nausea, sweating, sudden dysrhythmia, pulmonary edema, and even sudden death

57
Q

♡ attacks usually result in sudden death when…

A

cardiac arrest is occuring with dysrhymias.

58
Q

name the types of dysrhythmias

A

tachycardia, bradicardia, ventricular tachycardia (VT), and most commonly ventricular fibrillation (VF)

59
Q

What is a second consequence of an AMI? What are the symptoms? What can you do to help?

A

Cardiogenic shock, the symtoms include resrlessness, anxiety, pale clammy skin, pulse rate higher than normal, bp lower than normal. As an EMT, give oxygen, assist ventilations as needed, and transport immediately

60
Q

what is the third consequence of an AMI?

A

Another consequence is congestive ♡ failure. this occurs when damaged ♡ muscle can no longer contract effectively enough to pump blood through the entire system. the lungs become congested with fluid, breathing becomes difficult, the ♡ rate increases, and the left ventricle enlarges

61
Q

what are some signs of CHF?

A

swollen ankles from dependent edema, rapid ♡ rate and respirations, crackles, and sometimes, the pink sputum and dyspnea (difficulty breathing) of pulmonary edema

62
Q

how would you treat a patient with CHF?

A

similar to treating a patient with chest pain, you would monitor vital signs. Apply a CPAP if available and authorized to use it. Give the patient oxygen via a nonrebreathable mask if he or she will not tolerate CPAP or it is not available. Allow the patient to remain sitting up.

63
Q

If your patient is an unresponsive adult or child older than 8 years, is not breathing, and does not have a pulse; what do you do?

A

perform automated external defibrillation

63
Q

How do you treat patients with chest pain or discomfort?

A

obtain a SAMPLE history, follow OPQRST to assess pain, measure and record vital signs; ensure the patient is in a comfortable position (usually semireclining or half sitting up); administer aspirin, prescribed nitroglycerin and oxygen; and transport the patient while reporting to medical control

64
Q

if your patient is an unresponsive child younger than 8 years, is not breathing, and does not have a pulse; what do you do?

A

perform automated external defibrillation with pediatric pads and dose attenuator (wire connecting to the pads); if neither is available than adult AED can be used

65
Q

if your patient is an unresponsive infant between the ages of 1 month and 1 year, is not breathing, and doesn’t have a pulse, what can you do?

A

if there is no ALS to manually defibrilate then an AED can be used with pediatric pads

66
Q

what are critical interventions for the survival of a patient in cardiac arrest?

A

effective CPR and early defibrillation. applying the AED as soon as it is available also

67
Q

what id an unconscious patient becomes pulseless during transport?

A

stop the vehicle, reanalyze the rhythm, and defibrillate again, or begin CPR as apporopiate.

68
Q

what is the chain of survival?

A

it is the sequence of events that must happen for a patient with cardiac arrest to have the best chance of survival and recovery. this includes recognition of early warning signs and immediate activation of EMS, immediate high-quality CPR, rapid defibrillation, based advanced EMS, ALS and postarrest care and a recovery plan

69
Q

what should you include in your primary assessment of a patient with cardiac problems?

A

Start with abcs, and look for signs of impaired cardiac function such as an irregular heartbeat, a fast/slow ♡ rate, weak (thready) pulse, and poor skin condition

70
Q

What is given to patients with an acute cardiac event? Why?

A

Aspirin. It has been shown to reduce mortality from AMI and should be given as soon as possible (if not allergic) if an acute cardiac event is suspected. Aspirin can prevent the existing clot from getting larger by reducing the amount of platelet aggregation.

71
Q

what type of medication is nitroglycerin?

A

it is a vasodilator - it works on relaxing the smooth muscle that regulates the diameter of the blood vessels causing them to dilate (open).

71
Q

how can nitro help relieve chest pain, pressure, or discomfort?

A

it dilates the coronary arteries and increases blood flow to the ♡. however, if a patient with cardiac history is not relieved from chest pain, you can suspect that she/he is experiencing an AMI.

72
Q

when is nitro indicated for a patient?

A

if the patient has not taken his/her prescribed nitro, you can give it to them if the patient’s systolic blood pressure is at least 100 mm Hg so it is important to reassess the patient’s blood pressure within a few minutes after administering to ensure it is at least 100 mm Hg. nitro is contraindicated in patients with patients who have taken drugs in erectile dysfunction as it can cause hypotension.

73
Q

why is early notification of the receiving facility so important for patients with an acute coronary event?

A

early reperfusion has been clearly shown to minimize the amount of cardiac damage and improve the patient’s outcome. notifying before will give the staff time to allocate the resources needed to facilitate rapid cardiac reperfusion

74
Q

should you apply the AED to determine if this patient is experiencing a cardiac dysrhythmia?

A

no because the AED is applied only to patients in cardiac arrest. an AED cannot analyze the cardiac rhythm if it detects patient movement

75
Q

Why is the difference between angina pectoris and an AMI?

A

angina pectoris occurs when the heart’s demand for oxygen exceeds its available supply (ischemia), resulting in chest pain or discomfort. With this, oxygen supply and demand are rebalanced and the pain resolves usually in less than 15 minutes. An AMI occurs when a portion of the ♡ muscle is completely deprived of oxygen because of complete occlusion of one or more coronary arteries. Unlike angina, the pain continues for more than 15 minutes and needs prompt treatment in the hospital

76
Q

systolic blood pressure

A

the maximum pressure exerted by the left ventricle as it contracts

77
Q

where can you feel angina pain?

A

epigastrium (upper central region of the abdomen)

ems (4 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2024 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions