Cardiovascular System Flashcards
Angina(chest pain)
Chest pain leads muscles in the chest. Chest pain resulting from myocardial ischemia(ischemia is lack of oxygen in the blood).
What causing Angina
Ischemia myocardial ischemia or infraction and leads to tissue damage necrosis. three types of angina.
Stable angina: (exertional Angina):- occurs with activities that involves exertion,exercise,emotional stress.
Unstable angina:-occurs with unpredictable degrees of exertion or emotion; increases in occurrence, duration, Severity overtime.
Prinzmetal(Variant)angina:-Arterial spasm (cold, weather, stress, smoking, substance abuse) often walking client from sleep.
Angina assessment
Mild or moderate pain,may radiate to shoulder, arms, Jaw,neck, back, usually last less than 5 minutes, relieved by rest and/or nitroglycerin;dyspnea;Pallor;diaphoresis.
Angina diagnostic test
ECG shows inverted T wave,ST depression, or maybe normal.
Stress test causes chest pain or changes in ECG.
cardiac enzyme levels can be normal. Cardiac catheterization provides definitive diagnosis of patency of coronary arteries.
angina interventions
Assist pain,bedrest, assess ECG strip.
Administer oxygen, nitroglycerin as prescribed-side effect headache.
instruct client about diet, weight management, exercise,lifestyle changes following acute episodes.Surgical procedures same as for coronary artery disease.
chest pain initial care
assess airway breathing circulation ABC’s, position of upright.
Apply oxygen , if hypoxic.
Obtain baseline vital signs, heart and lung sound.
Obtain a 12 leads electrocardiogram ECG.
Insert 2 to3 large bore I/V catheters
assess pain-OLDCART, Medicate for pain: morphine/nitroglycerin (sildenafil) +nitro-severe hypotension).
Initiate continuous electrocardiogram (ECG) monitoring
Obtain bloodwork (example:cardiac markers, serum electrolytes).
Obtain portable chest x-ray
Assess for contraindications to antiplatelet and anticoagulant therapy.
Administer aspirin unless contraindicated.
What is OLDCART
O-onset, when? L-location exactly where? D-Duration-how long? C-characteristics-what kind of pain? A-aggravating factor-what makes activity worsen. R-Relieving – what make better? T-Time /T reatment:exact time.
Angina medications
Nitrates: dilate coronary arteries;decreased preload and after load, such as nitroglycerin.
Calcium channel blockers: dilate coronary arteries and reduce Vasospasm, such as nefidepine(Procardia)
Cholesterol lowering medication‘s:Reduce development atherosclerotic Plagues, such as lovastatin. Statin groups Lower the high cholesterol.
B blocker’s: Reduce blood pressure in individuals who are hypertensive, such as sotalol(Betapace)Atenolol.
antiplatelets: to reduce risk of MI.
myocardial infraction
Occurs when myocardial tissue abruptly, severely deprived of oxygen, leading to necrosis and infraction; develops over several hours.
Location of MI
LAD: left anterior descending artery:anterior or septal MI.
circumflex artery: posterior or lateral wall MI.
Right coronary artery: inferior wall MI.
risk factors of MI
Modifiable versus non-modifiable,
atherosclerosis;coronaryartery disease; elevated cholesterol levels; smoking; hypertension;obesity; impaired glucose tolerance; stress.
diagnostic studies of MI
ECG, ST changes, inverted, T; abnormal Q wave.
cardiac enzymes CKMB/creatinine kinase MB isoenzyme(CK-MB)more sensitive to myocardium.
CK total 30to 170 u/L, Elevated levels first 4 to 6 hours. Expected duration of elevated levels three days. troponin (T)0.2nd/l,elevated levels 3to5hrs(Expected levels first detecting following myocardial injury)14to21days.
Troponin I:-0.03ng/l Expected level 3hrs.
Myoglobin less than 90 MCg/ L2hrs
interventions of MI
acute stage: same as chest pain initial care,
interventions following acute episode,
bedrest, range of motion exercise as prescribed, activity progression as tolerated.
Complications of MI
Dysrhythmias;heart failure; pulmonary edema; cardiogenic shock; thrombophlebitis; pericarditis;
papillary muscle rupture- new murmur (Because of valves or not opening proper muscles)
Heart failure
inability of heart to maintain Adequate circulation to meet metabolic needs of body.
Classification:acute, chronic
Right ventricular: RV reduce capacity to pump into pulmonary circulation-back up in the rest of body.
left ventricular: Left ventricle reduced to capacity to pump into system circulation -back up in lungs
Compensatory mechanism:
compensatory mechanism: restore cardiac output to near-normal levels
include increased heart rate, improved stroke volume, arterial vasoconstriction, sodium and water retention, myocardial hypertrophy.
right sided heart failure
right sided heart failure presents as primarily systemic assessment symptoms, including JVD, dependent edema,ascites,nausea,hepatosplenomegaly.
Left-sided heart failure
Left sided heart failure presents as primarily respiratory symptoms including orthopnea, cough, adventitious breath sounds, tachycardia, dyspnea on exertion,S3.
Pulmonary edema
pulmonary edema present says-acute restlessness, anxiety, crackles , pallor,dyspnea ,orthopnea,pink frothy sputum,diaphoresis.
BNP-basil natriuretic peptides:
made and released by ventricles in response to stretching.
causes natriuresis ( excretion of sodium in the urine)
Stretching of the ventricles- increased blood volume (fluid overload) heart failure.
Elevation of BNP>100pg/ml (picogram)helps to distinguish cardiac from respiratory causes of dyspnea.

BNP:Interventional 
client high in Fowlers position ,Rest period between Activities.
Calm environment, administer oxygen as prescribed (N/C)
better gas exchange, decrease workload, suction PRN as prescribed.
monitor vital signs frequently, (watch for hypotension,orthostatic hypo)
Strict intake and output,daily weight , fluid restriction.
Heart Failure Meds
Meds: administer diuretics as prescribed, electrolytes K levels,
vasodilators, nitro:reduce preload
ACE inhibitors/ARB: Reduce afterload
Beta blockers: reduce workload , improve contractions,
administer morphine sulfate as prescribed: sedation, respiration, depression.
Administer digitals as prescribed: improve contractility (hold HR less than 60).
Heart Failure teaching modifiable risk factors
instruct the client about modifiable risk factor, proper administration of medication regimen.instruct the client to avoid over the counter medication.
Diet: eat low sodium, low cholesterol diet, instruct client to balance activity level. Daily weight , – report a 3lb per day or 5lb a week increase.
coronary artery disease
narrowing or obstruction of the one or more coronary arteries as a result of atherosclerosis.
Coronary artery disease symptoms
Maybe asymptomatic – atypical chest pain – especially in women .chest pain, palpitations, dyspnea, syncope, cough, excessive fatigue.
Diagnostic studies: ECG shows ST depression on inverted T-wave.
cardiac catheterization provides definitive diagnosis, blood lipid levels may be elevated.
Coronary artery disease interventions
Interventions: educate client about diagnostic tests, educate client about modifiable risk factors. Diet: instruct client to eat low calorie, low sodium, low cholesterol, low fat diet, with increase in dietary in fiber.
Instruct client about the importance of regular exercise.
Coronary artery disease special procedures
PTCA:-Percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty-ballooning, lesser angioplasty, Atherectomy,vascular stent.
Inflammatory disease of the heart(pericarditis)
Pericarditis: inflammation of the pericardium. Commonly follows a respiratory infection.
Can be due to a myocardial infraction (Dressler‘s syndrome).
grating pain, aggravated my breathing. Pain worsen when in supine position, relieved by leaning forward.
Pericarditis interventions 
Position client in high Fowlers position, upright leaning forward, monitor for signs of cardiac tamponade.