Ch_1 - Cardiology Flashcards
Starting with III. ARRHYTHMIAS
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The most important issue for anyone admitted with an arrhythmia is ….?
…hemodynamic stability
What is hemodynamic instability? [4]
- Hypotensive (SBP < 90)
- Dyspnea
- Altered mental status/confusion d/t inadequate perfusion.
- Chest pain
Mnemonic for hemodynamic instability
things are LOW – low BP, Shortness (low) of breath, low mentation and the oddball – chest pain.
What must you, as the medical student, do when you find a pt who is hemodynamically unstable?
- Call your resident!
- Recheck BP
- Normal saline is REQUIRED
- Repeat EKG
T/F Palpitations are very non-specific
True
T/F Patient w/ palpitations has no disease at all 50% of the time.
True
What must you do first if your patient has palpitations?
EKG!
Pt with palpitations gets an EKG and it is normal. Next step?
Outpatient - Holter monitor
Inpatient - Telemetry
T/F Pt with palpitations should not be medicated if no objective pathology is found.
True
What must you exclude in a patient with palpitations? [3]
- Thyroid disease
- Alcohol excess (can cause transient episodes of afib)
- Excessive caffeine intake
T/F The testing and treatment are essentially the same for a-fib and a-flutter
True
What is the classic presentation of a pt with afib/aflutter? [5]
- Palpitations of fluttering of the chest
- Lightheaded
- “Racing” heart
- LOC is rare, but possible
- Chest pain in SOME.
T/F loss of consciousness is possible with atrial fibrillation.
True, but it is rare.
Your patient has atrial fibrillation. What questions of the patient would your resident/attending most likely ask you in regards to the afib? [6]
Basically, their PMH and diagnostic studies.
- Hypertension (most common)
- CHF or cardiomyopathy of any kind
- Thyroid dz
- Alcohol or cocaine use
- Rheumatic fever, particularly of immigrants
- Previous EKG/Holter/ECHO
What is the most important feature of a-fib on physical exam?
irregularly irregular rhythm.
What is a wrong way to measure heart rate in patient with afib?
By palpating the radial pulse.
Why is palpating the radial pulse a bad way to measure heart rate in afib patient?
All beats are not transmitted sufficiently and may not be felt at the radial pulse b/c the heart is only partially full during a number of beats.
What SBP is necessary to feel a radial pulse?
SBP > 90 mm Hg. Weak contractions will not transmit.
What does an EKG show for afib? [3]
- absent P waves
- QRS < 100 msec
- Irregularly irregular rhythm based on RR intervals.
May also see fibrillatory waves.
For what patients would a Holter monitor be used?
outpatients
For what patients would telemetry be used?
inpatients
Afib pts would get CK-MB and/or troponin ordered for who?
patients with acute episodes of rapid rate.
Afib pts would get ECHO when?
EVERYONE, if not done in last 6 months.