Circulatory pathology and nursing care Flashcards
Define AETIOLOGY
The cause, or set of causes, of a condition
Define PATHOGENESIS
The manner of development of a disease i.e. what is the process
Define PATHOPHYSIOLOGY
The study of the disordered physical processes that accompany a disease
What are the two types of cardiac diseases?
Cardiac diseases may be acquired, and develop throughout the animal’s lifetime, or congenital, and associated with a defect that is present at birth
Define a SINUS BRADYCARDIA
A heart rhythm that is slower than expected
Define SINUS TACHYCARDIA
A regular cardiac rhythm in which the heart beats faster than normal. It may be normal following excitement or exercise but is a concern when the animal is at rest
Define ATRIAL FIBRILLATION
Abnormal electrical impulses in the atria. These irregular electrical impulses override the heart’s natural pacemaker (the sinoatrial node), causing it to lose control, resulting in a highly irregular pulse rate
Define VENTRICULAR FIBRILLATION
A type of irregular heart rhythm - the lower heart chambers contract in a very rapid and uncoordinated manner, and as a result blood is not pumped to the rest of the body by the heart
Define PREMATURE VENTRICULAR CONTRACTIONS
Extra heartbeats that begin in one of the heart’s two ventricles. The extra beat disrupts the heart’s rhythm, causing a sensation of fluttering, or the heart having ‘skipped a beat’
Define ATRIAL STANDSTILL
Rare but very serious. The absence of atrial electrical and mechanical activity. Can lead to syncope, congestive heart failure and sudden death. May be partial or total, and can be transient or permanent.
Define a HEART BLOCK
Where the electrical impulses of the heart slow down, and, depending on the severity, sometimes completely stop.
What are the different types of heart block?
First degree, second degree (which may be Mobitz type 1 or type 2), and third degree
What is a first degree heart block?
The least severe, and may not even require treatment. The electrical signals slow down as they move from the atria to the ventricles.
What is a second degree heart block?
The electrical signals between the atria and the ventricles intermittently fail to conduct. There are two different types of second degree heart block: Mobitz type 1 and Mobitz type 2
What are the two different types of second degree heart block?
Mobitz type 1 - electrical signals get slower and slower between beats, and eventually the heart skips a beat
Mobitz type 2 - the electrical signals may reach the ventricles, but sometimes they do not. No progressive slowing, it is sudden. Can progress to a third degree block
What is a third degree heart block?
The most severe type of heart block. Electrical signals do not cross from the atria to the ventricles are all - there is no electrical conduction, resulting in a very slow or no pulse at all
What are the different acquired heart conditions?
Endocarditis, myocardial disease (which may be primary or secondary), pericardial disease, endocardiosis, mitral valve disease, congestive heart failure (which may be right or left sided), and heart murmurs
Define ENDOCARDITIS
Inflammation of the inner lining of the heart, specifically the heart valves - not particularly common. The valves develop a bacterial infection which result in septic emboli. These septic emboli break off and migrate to other sites.
What are septic emboli?
A blood clot with bacteria that blocks a blood vessel and causes infection and tissue damage.
What does unresolved endocarditis lead to?
Myocarditis, which is inflammation of the myocardium - the heart muscle.
Define MYOCARDITIS
Inflammation of the myocardium, the heart muscle
What are some clinical signs of endocarditis?
General unwellness, alongside:
- pyrexia
- a worsening heart murmur
- a cough, due to fluid retention and congestion
- dyspnoea
What is myocardial disease?
General diseases of the cardiac muscle (the myocardium) which affects the heart’s ability to pump effectively. May be dilated (primary) or hypertrophic (secondary)
What are the two different types of myocardial disease?
Primary - dilated cardiomyopathy
Secondary - hypertrophic cardiomyopathy