Chapter 18 Glossary- 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. also called cardiac compromise.

Question 2

acute myocardial infarction (AMI)

Answer 2

the condition in which a portion of the myocardium does as a result of oxygen starvation; often called a heart attack by laypersons.

Question 3

agonal breathing

Answer 3

irregular, gasping breaths that precede apnea and death.

Question 4

aneurysm

Answer 4

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

Question 5

angina pectoris

Answer 5

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.

Question 6

apnea

Answer 6

no breathing

Question 7

asystole

Answer 7

a condition in which the heart has ceased generating electrical impulses. commonly called flatline.

Question 8

bradycardia

Answer 8

when the heart rate is slow, usually less than 60 bpm

Question 9

cardiac compromise

Answer 9

see acute coronary syndrome

Question 10

cardiopulmonary resuscitation

Answer 10

actions taken to revive a person by keeping the person’s heart and lungs working.

Question 11

cardiovascular system

Answer 11

the heart and the blood vessels

Question 12

congestive heart failure (CHF)

Answer 12

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

Question 13

coronary artery disease (CAD)

Answer 13

diseases that affect the arteries of the heart.

Question 14

defibrillation

Answer 14

delivery of an elctrical shock to stop the fibrillation of the heart muscles and restore a normal heart rhythm.

Question 15

dyspnea

Answer 15

shortness of breath; labored or difficult breathing.

Question 16

dysrhythmia

Answer 16

a disturbance in heart rate and rhythm.

Question 17

edema

Answer 17

swelling resulting from a buildup of fluid in the tissues.

Question 18

embolism

Answer 18

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

Question 19

nutroglycerin

Answer 19

a medication that dilated the blood vessels.

Question 20

occlusion

Answer 20

blockage, as of an artery, by fatty deposits.

Question 21

pedal edema

Answer 21

accumulation of fluid in the lungs.

Question 22

pulseless electrical activity (PEA)

Answer 22

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 23

sudden death

Answer 23

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

Question 24

tachycardia

Answer 24

when the heart rate is fast, more than 100 bpm

Question 25

thrombus

Answer 25

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

Question 26

ventricular fibrillation

Answer 26

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

Question 27

ventricular tachycardia

Answer 27

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.