Chapter 18: Cardiac Emergencies

Question 1

Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS)

Answer 1

a blanket term used to represent any symptoms related to lack of oxygen (ischemia) in the heart muscle
Sometimes called cardiac compromise

Question 2

Chest pain description

Answer 2

crushing, dull, heavy, or squeezing

Question 3

Signs and symptoms associated with ACS

Answer 3

• pain, pressure, or discomfort in the chest or upper abdomen
• difficulty breathing
• palpitations
• sudden onset of sweating and nausea or vomiting
• anxiety (feeling of impending doom)
• unusual generalized weakness
• abnormal pulse (rapid, slow, or irregular)
• abnormal blood pressure

Question 4

Dyspnea

Answer 4

shortness of breath; labored or difficult breathing

Question 5

Coronary Artery Disease (CAD)

Answer 5

• diseases that affect the arteries of the heart
• often the result of the buildup of fatty deposits on the inner walls of arteries; this buildup causes a narrowing of the inner vessel diameter, restricting the flow of blood.

Question 6

Thrombus

Answer 6

a clot formed of blood and plaque attached to the inner wall of an artery or vein

Question 7

Occlusion

Answer 7

blockage, as of an artery, by fatty deposits

Question 8

Embolism

Answer 8

blockage of a vessel by a clot or foreign material brought to the site by the blood current

Question 9

Aneurysm

Answer 9

the dilation, or ballooning, of a weakened section of the wall of an artery

Question 10

Dysrhythmia

Answer 10

a disturbance in heart rate and rhythm

Question 11

Angina pectoris

Answer 11

• pain in the chest occurring when blood supply to the heart is reduced and a portion of the heart muscle is not receiving enough oxygen
• pain brought on my stress or exertion

Question 12

Nitroglycerin

Answer 12

medication that dilates the blood vessels

Question 13

Acute Myocardial Infarction

Answer 13

• the condition in which a portion of the myocardium dies as a result of oxygen starvation; often called a heart attack by laypersons
• brought on by the narrowing or occlusion of the coronary artery that supplies the region with blood

Question 14

Sudden Death

Answer 14

• a cardiac arrest that occurs within 2 hours of the onset of symptoms
• the pt may have no prior symptoms of coronary artery disease

Question 15

Congestive Heart Failure (CHF)

Answer 15

the failure of the heart to pump efficiently, leading to excessive blood or fluids in the lungs, the body, or both

Question 16

Blood function in the heart

Answer 16

• the left side of the heart receives oxygenated blood from the lungs and pulmonary circulation and pumps it to the rest of the body

Question 17

Edema

Answer 17

swelling resulting from a buildup of fluid in the tissues

Question 18

Pulmonary edema

Answer 18

accumulation of fluid in the lungs

Question 19

Pedal edema

Answer 19

accumulation of fluid in the feet or ankles

Question 20

Important factors that affect survival of cardiac arrest pts in its chain of survival concept

Answer 20

1. recognition and activation of the emergency response system
2. immediate high-quality CPR
3. rapid defibrillation
4. basic and advanced EMS
5. ALS and post-arrest care

Question 21

Ventricular Fibrillation

Answer 21

a condition in which the heart’s electrical impulses are disorganized, preventing the heart muscle from contracting normally

Question 22

Ventricular tachycardia

Answer 22

a condition in which the heartbeat is quite rapid; if rapid enough, ventricular tachycardia will not allow the heart’s chambers to fill with enough blood between beats to produce blood flow sufficient to meet the body’s needs

Question 23

Pulseless electrical activity

Answer 23

a condition in which the heart’s electrical rhythm remains relatively normal, yet the mechanical pumping activity fails to follow the electrical activity, causing cardiac arrest

Question 24

Asystole

Answer 24

a condition in which the heart has ceased generating electrical impulses; aka flatline