Chapter 40: Pts With Acute Coronary Syndromes

Question 1

Chronic stable angina

Answer 1

˜“Strangling of the chest”
˜Temporary imbalance between coronary artery’s ability to supply oxygen and cardiac muscle’s demand for oxygen
˜Ischemia limited in duration and does not cause permanent damage to myocardial tissue
˜Chronic stable angina. CSA
˜Unstable angina

Chest discomfort that occurs with moderate to prolonged exertion in a pattern that is familiar to the patient. The frequency, duration, and intensity remain the same. Usually relieved by nitroglycerin or rest.

Question 2

Acute coronary syndrome

Answer 2

˜Patients who present with either unstable angina or acute myocardial infarction
˜Believed that atherosclerotic plaque in coronary artery ruptures, resulting in platelet aggregation, thrombus formation or vasoconstriction
1. STEMI
2. NSTEMI
3. Unstable angina>30% progress to MI in year

Question 3

Unstable angina pectoris

Answer 3

˜ Chest pain or discomfort that occurs at rest or with exertion and causes severe activity limitation. There is an increase in the number of attacks and in the intensity of pain. It may last longer than 15 minutes and may or may not be relieved by rest or nitroglycerin
New-onset angina
˜Variant (Prinzmetal’s) angina from coronary artery spasm usually after rest
˜Pre-infarction angina in the days or weeks before an MI
˜Patients present with ST changes on 12-lead ECG, but will not have changes in troponin or CK levels

Question 4

Myocardial infarction

Answer 4

Most serious acute coronary syndrome
˜Myocardial tissue abruptly and severely deprived of oxygen. Most are the result of atherosclerosis of a coronary artery, rupture of the plaque, subsequent thrombosis, and occlusion.
˜Occlusion of blood flow
˜Necrosis
˜Hypoxia leads to vasodilation and acidosis.
˜Subendocardial MI, transmural MI (all 3 layers, anterior wall MI (obstruction of LAD, highest mortality), inferior wall MI(RCA obstruction)
˜Ventricular remodeling
˜Divided by ACC/AHA
ØNon-ST MI (NSTEMI)
ØST elevation MI (STEMI)

Question 5

Modifiable risk factors

Answer 5

˜Elevated serum cholesterol
˜Cigarette smoking
˜Hypertension
˜Impaired glucose tolerance/DM
˜Obesity
˜Excessive alcohol
˜Limited physical activity
˜Stress
Atherosclerosis
Metabolic syndrome/syndrome x
Elevated homocysteine levels

Question 6

Labs for MI

Answer 6

˜Troponin T and troponin I
˜Creatine kinase-MB (CK-MB)
˜Myoglobin
˜Imaging assessment: thallium scan for ischemia, CTCA
˜12-lead electrocardiograms
˜Cardiac catheterization

Question 7

Pain management for MI

Answer 7

˜Nitroglycerin
˜Morphine sulfate: priority with MI
˜Oxygen
˜Position of comfort; semi-Fowler’s position
˜Quiet and calm environment
Aspirin 325mg

Question 8

Interventions for ineffective tissue perfusion cardiopulmonary

Answer 8

˜Interventions:
ØDrug therapy (aspirin, thrombolytic agents)
ØRestoration of perfusion to injured area limits amount of extension, improves left ventricular function
ØComplete sustained reperfusion of coronary arteries in first few hours after MI has decreased mortality

Question 9

Thrombolytic therapy

Answer 9

˜Fibrinolytics dissolve thrombi in coronary arteries, restore myocardial blood flow
ØTissue plasminogen activator
ØReteplase
ØTenecteplase

Question 10

Medication therapy for MI

Answer 10

˜Glycoprotein (GP) IIB/IIIa inhibitors
˜Once-a-day beta blockers
˜ACE inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blockers
˜Calcium channel blockers
˜Ranolazine (Ranexa)

Question 11

Reperfussion therapy

Answer 11

˜Glycoprotein (GP) IIB/IIIa inhibitors
˜Once-a-day beta blockers
˜ACE inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blockers
˜Calcium channel blockers
˜Ranolazine (Ranexa)

Question 12

Cardiogenic shock

Answer 12

Necrosis of more than 40% of left ventricle
˜Tachycardia
˜Hypotension
˜Blood pressure <30 mL/hr
˜Cold, clammy skin
˜Poor peripheral pulses
˜Agitation, restlessness, confusion
˜Pulmonary congestion
˜Tachypnea
˜Continuing chest discomfort

Question 13

Percutaneous Transluminal Coronary Angioplasty

Answer 13

Clopidogrel before procedure
˜IV heparin after procedure
˜IV or intracoronary nitroglycerin or diltiazem
˜Possible IV GP IIb/IIIa inhibitors
˜Long-term therapy, antiplatelet therapy, beta blocker, ACE inhibitor, or ARB

Indications the clot has been dissolved and the artery reperfused include abrupt cessation of pain or discomfort, sudden onset of ventricular dysrhythmias, resolution of ST segment depression or T wave inversion, a peak at 12 hours of markers of myocardial damage. Large amounts of thrombin are released into the system after lysis which increase the risk of vessel reocclusion. Aspirin and IV heparin is usually prescribed.

· Nonsurgical, invasive procedure to improve severity of discomfort for pts with angina and to bridge pts to CABG. Artery often reoccludes if a stent is not used.
· Pre-procedure: dose of Plavix which is an antiplatelet drug. A heart catheterization is done. Balloon forces plaque open.
· Post-procedure: IV heparin to prevent thrombus, IV nitroglycerin or diltiazem to prevent coronary vasospasm. Re-stenosis can happen in the 1st 24 hours. Monitor for acute closure of vessel (chest pain), bleeding from insertions site, contrast reaction, hypotension, hypokalemia, dysrhythmias. Monitor for hypokalemia. Long term: aspirin with Plavix for antiplatelet therapy. ACE and beta blocker if they had an angioplasty after an MI.

Question 14

Coronary artery disease

Answer 14

˜Includes stable angina, acute coronary syndromes
˜Ischemia—insufficient oxygen supply to meet requirements of myocardium
˜Infarction—necrosis or cell death that occurs when severe ischemia is prolonged and decreased perfusion causes irreversible damage to tissue

Question 28

STEMI

Answer 28

STelevation MI which is traditional manifestation

Question 29

NSTEMI

Answer 29

non ST elevation MI common in women

Question 30

Angina pain

Answer 30

Sub sternal chest discomfort radiating to the left arm, precipitated by exertion or stress, relieved by nitroglycerin or rest, lasts less than 15 minutes, few if any associated symptoms

Question 31

Myocardial infarction pain

Answer 31

Sub sternal chest pain radiating to the left arm, pain in the jaw back shoulder or abdomen, occurring without cause usually in the morning, relieved only by opioids, last 30 minutes or more. Associated symptoms include nausea and vomiting, diaphoresis, dyspnea, anxiety, dysrhythmias, fatigue, palpitations, epigastric distress, dizziness, disorientation, feeling short of breath

Question 32

Assessment MI

Answer 32

Pain: onset, location, radiation, intensity, duration, precipitating and relieving factors. Assess associated symptoms. Blood pressure, heart rate, and dysrhythmias. Sinus tachycardia with PVCs frequently occur a few hours before an MI. Assess distal pulses, skin temperature, auscultate for S3 Gallup indicating heart failure, respiratory rate, crackles or wheezes with left-sided failure, S4 heart sound with previous MI or hypertension, jugular venous distention, peripheral Edema, temperature

Question 33

ECG changes

Answer 33

ST elevation caused by coronary vasospasm and variant angina

ST depression and Twave inversion. During anginal episode
The above return to normal after.

Qwave wider than .04 or more than 1/3 height of QRS from necrosis. This may be permanent

Question 34

Nursing diagnosis for coronary artery disease

Answer 34

Acute pain, ineffective tissue perfusion, activity intolerance, ineffective coping.

If experiencing an MI the most important collaborative problems are potential for dysrhythmias, potential for heart failure, potential for recurrent symptoms and extension of injury.

Additional nursing diagnoses include ineffective sexuality pattern, impaired physical mobility, potential for acute renal failure

Question 35

Nitroglycerin

Answer 35

.3-.4 SL q5 min x 3 in 15.
Do not give to patients being treated with sexual dysfunction. Fatal interactions may occur. Lie down with the head of bed at a level of comfort because hypotension can be immediate. Monitor blood pressure. If less than 100 systolic or 25 lower than previous, call doc. Pay Attention to orthostatic changes. Allow the tablet to dissolve do not swallow the tablet. Check the expiration date. Tablet should be replaced every 3 to 5 months. Reevaluate pain every five minutes. Monitor for headache. Vasodilation is generalized.

If on long-term they should have an 8 to 12 hour free. To prevent tolerance. Give acetaminophen before to ease headache pain.

Question 36

Aspirin

Answer 36

81-325 mg po q day
Take daily dose with food to decrease gastric irritation. Tinnitus may occur with toxicity. Should be continued unless the doctor tells them to stop.
It inhibits platelet aggregation and vasoconstriction, decreasing the likelihood of thrombosis. Patient should chew and swallow the drug. Observed for bleeding tendencies.

Question 37

Contraindications for thrombolytic therapy

Answer 37

Any prior intracranial hemorrhage. Known structural cerebral vascular lesion. Known malignant intracranial neoplasm. Ischemic stroke within three months. Suspected aortic dissection. Active bleeding or bleeding diastasis. Significant closed head or facial trauma within three months

Relative: history of chronic severe poorly controlled hypertension. Severe uncontrolled hypertension on presentation greater than 180/110. History of prior ischemic stroke within three months, dementia, or known intracranial pathology not covered in contraindications. Dramatic or prolonged CPR over 10 minutes or major surgery in 3 weeks. Recent internal bleeding within 2 to 4 weeks. Noncompressive all vascular punctures. For streptokinase prior exposure over five days ago or prior allergic reaction. Pregnancy. Active peptic ulcer. Current use of anticoagulants, the higher the INR the higher the risk of bleeding

Question 38

Beta blockers

Answer 38

Metoprolol carvedilol
Decrease the size of the infarct, the occurrence of ventricular dysrhythmias, and mortality rate in patients with an MI. Usually prescribed in the first one to two hours if hemodynamically stable. They slow the heart rate and decrease the force of cardiac contraction. Prolonged period of diastole and increased myocardial perfusion. The heart can perform more work without ischemia. Monitor for bradycardia, hypotension, decreased LOC, chest discomfort. Watch for crackles in the lungs and wheezes which can indicate bronchospasm. Hypoglycemia, depression, nightmares, forgetfulness are common especially in older patients. Do not give if the pulse is below 60 or systolic is below 100.

Question 39

Cardiac rehab

Answer 39

Phase 1: begins with the acute illness and ends with discharge from the hospital. Hello rest and limited mobility. Assistance may be needed for ADLs. Encourage progressive ambulation usually 50, 100, up to 200 feet three times per day. Shower for 5 to 10 minutes with warm water. A decrease in systolic greater than 20 or a change of 20 beats per minutes, reports of dyspnea or pain indicate activity intolerance. Do not advance to the next level.
Phase 2: begins after discharge and continues through convalescence at home.
Phase 3: refers to long-term conditioning

Question 40

Coronary artery disease in the older adult

Answer 40

Chest pain may not be evident. Symptoms such as dyspnea, confusion, or G.I. symptoms. Monitor older adults receiving thrombolytics carefully because they have more severe side effects. Determine whether dysrhythmias cause symptoms. Use beta blockers carefully and watch for side effects. Exacerbation of depression is common with beta blockers. Plan slow steady increases in activity. They should have a longer warm-up and cooldown period. There pulse rate may not return to baseline until 30 minutes after exercise

Question 41

Class IV heart failure

Answer 41

It is cardiogenic shock. Necrosis of more than 40% of the left ventricle occurs. Most patients have a stuttering pattern of chest pain. Manifestations include tachycardia, hypertension, blood pressure less than 90 mm or 30 mm less than the baseline. Decreased urine output, cold clammy skin, poor peripheral pulses, agitation, restlessness, confusion, pulmonary congestion, tachypnea, continuing chest discomfort.

Question 42

Intra-aortic balloon pump

Answer 42

Invasive intervention that is used to improve myocardial perfusion during any cute and I, reduce preload and afterload, and facilitate left ventricular ejection. Can be inserted percutaneously or thru surgical cutdown. Inflation during diastole augments the diastolic pressure and improves coronary perfusion by increasing blood flow to the arteries. Deflation of the balloon just before systole reduces afterload at the time of systolic contraction. This action facilitates emptying of the left ventricle and improves cardiac output. It is attached to the pump consul which is triggered by an ECG tracing in arteriole waveform.

Question 43

CABG post procedure

Answer 43

· Usually mechanical ventilation for 3-4 hours after surgery.
· Chest tube, pacemaker, and hemodynamic monitoring
· Closely watch for dysrhythmias such as ventricular ectopic rhythms, bradydysrhythmias, Afib, or heart block. Hypoxia and hypokalemia are frequent causes of ventricular dysrhythmias. If heart block or brady, the pacemaker may need turned on or adjusted.
· Complications: F&E imbalance, hypotension, hypothermia, hypertension, bleeding, cardiac tamponade, decreased LOC, anginal pain.
i. F&E: edema common, monitor calcium, magnesium, potassium closely. Check levels frequently. K should be 4.0, Mg should be 2.2
ii. Hypotension: corrected with fluids or blood if hypovolemic, vasopressor therapy, or IV inotropes if it is from L/ventricle failure (increased PAWP)
iii. Hypothermia: institute rewarming if under 96.8. Do not rewarm too quickly and cause shivering. D/c warming when 98.6. Hypothermia can cause vasoconstricition and HTN.
iv. HTN promotes leakage from suture lines and could cause bleeding. Possible treat with nipride or corlopam to reduce afterload
v. Bleeding: report drainage >150ml/hr. Autotransfusion if 500ml over 4 hours. Make sure tubes are patent
vi. Cardiac tamponade: sudden cessation of drainage, jugular vein distention with clear lung sounds, pulsus paradoxus, equalizing PAWP and RAP, cardiovascular collapse.
vii. LOC: watch for abnormal pupil response, failure to awaken from anesthesia, seizures, absence of sensory motor function. Monitor q 30-60 min until awake then every 2-4 hours
viii. Pain:
1. Sternotomy pain: local, no radiating, worse with cough or deep breath, sharp, aching, burning. It could stimulate the SNS and increase HR. Give enough pain meds to manage this pain
2. Anginal pain could indicate failure of graft.
· At risk for atelectasis so turn, cough, deep breathe, IS. Early ambulation is essential. Dangle and turn side to side within 2 hours after extubation. Chair in 4-8 hours. After first 24 hours, walk 25-100 ft 3x day
· Monitor neurovascular status of donor site. Assess pulses, color, temp, cap refill, sensation and mobility. IV nitro for first 24 hours to vasodilate and improve circulation in graft site.
· Mediastinitis: fever after 4 days; instability of sternum; redness, induration, swelling, or draining from suture sites; increased WBC. Possible biopsy and IV antibiotics

Question 44

CABG pre procedure

Answer 44

Occluded coronary arteries are bypassed why patients own venous or arterial blood vessels or from synthetic grafts. The internal mammary artery is the current graft of choice because it has a 90% patency rate at 12 years after. CABG is indicated when patients do not respond to medical management. Candidates are patients who have angina with greater than 50% occlusion of The left main coronary artery that cannot be stented. Unstable angina with two vessel disease three vessel disease or small vessel disease which stents cannot be used. Ischemia with heart failure. Acute MI with cardiogenic shock. Signs of ischemia or impending MI after angiography or PTCA, valvular disease, coronary vessels unsuitable for PTCA.

It is most effective when adequate ventricular function remains in the ejection fraction is close to 50% or greater. Left ventricular function is the most important long-term indicator of survival