Chapter 20 | Cardiac Emergencies Flashcards
• Aspects of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) • Conditions that may lead to a cardiac emergency
Define:
cardiac conduction system
system of specialized muscle tissue that conducts electrical impulses that stimulate the heart to the beat
Locate and define:
coronary arteries
major blood vessels which supply blood to the heart
Define:
artery
blood vessels carrying oxygenated blood from heart to body
Define:
vein
blood vessels carrying deoxygenated blood from body to heart
Locate and define:
vena cava
major blood vein carrying deoxygenated blood from body to heart
Locate and define:
aorta
main artery of body carrying oxygenated blood from heart to body
Locate and define:
pulmonary arteries
vessels which transport deoxygenated blood from heart to lungs (for oxygenation)
Locate and define:
pulmonary veins
blood vessels that carry oxygenated blood from lungs to heart
Define:
acute coronary syndrome (ACS)
(AKA “cardiac compromise”)
any time the heart may not be getting enough oxygen
Define:
ACS
(abbreviation)
acute coronary syndrome
List:
signs/symptoms of ACS
6 points (patient complaints and body response)
- chest pain (angina pectoris)
- dyspnea (shortness of breath)
- nausea or abdominal pain/discomfort
- sweating
- tachycardia (high HR)
- hypertension (high BP)
(ACS is acute coronary syndrome)
List:
patients who may have atypical presentation of ACS
3 points
- women
- diabetics
- elderly
Define:
EKG
(abbreviation)
electrocardiogram
(yeah the K is dumb)
Define:
electrocardiogram (EKG)
recording of heart’s electrical signal to check for abnormal heart conditions
Locate and define:
pulmonary valve
valve between between the heart’s right ventricle and pulmonary artery
Locate and define:
aortic valve
valve between the heart’s left ventricle and aorta
Some patients, such as [BLANK], [BLANK], and [BLANK], may experience atypical symptoms of ACS.
such as women, diabetics, and elderly
Define:
STEMI
(abbreviation)
ST segment elevation myocardial infarction
worst kind of heart attack
Define:
STEMI
(what it is)
when an artery supplying blood to the heart muscle suddenly becomes partially or completely blocked by a blood clot
(most serious type of heart attack)
List:
treatments for ACS
5 points
- position of comfort
- supplemental oxygen
- aspirin
- nitroglycerin
- rapid transport (to cardiac center)
Define:
coronary artery disease
conditions that narrow/block arteries of heart and deprive heart muscles (myocardium) of oxygen
Fill in the blank:
Coronary artery disease is often a result of [BLANK] on the inner walls of arteries.
(pathophysiology)
Coronary artery disease is often a result of fatty deposit build-up on the inner walls of arteries.
Define:
thrombus
blood clot on the inner surface of artery
Define:
embolus
flowing piece of blood clot that breaks loose and flows to smaller artery