Critical Care Midterms Flashcards
Any condition that decreases blood flow, blood pressure, or kid
ney perfusion before arterial blood reaches the renal artery that
supplies the kidney may be anatomically described as
pre renal AKI
When arterial hypoperfusion secondary to low cardiac output, hemorrhage, vasodilation, thrombosis, or other cause reduces the blood flow to the kidney, _________ decreases and consequently ______________ decreases
GFR and UO
Receives deoxygenated blood from the body.
Atrium
Pumps the deoxygenated blood to the gills for oxygenation.
Ventricle
explain the 4 chambers of heart
Right atrium: Receives deoxygenated blood from the body.
Right ventricle: Pumps the deoxygenated blood to the lungs for oxygenation.
Left atrium: Receives oxygenated blood from the lungs.
Left ventricle: Pumps oxygenated blood to the rest of the body.
explain the 4 valves of the heart
Tricuspid valve: Between the right atrium and right ventricle.
Pulmonary valve: Between the right ventricle and pulmonary arteries (leading to the lungs).
Mitral valve: Between the left atrium and left ventricle.
Aortic valve: Between the left ventricle and the aorta (the large artery that distributes oxygenated blood to the body).
refers to breathing at an abnormally rapid rate, which causes excessive loss of carbon dioxide (CO₂) from the body
Hyperventilation
As CO₂ levels drop, the blood becomes more alkaline (basic), leading to a condition called
respiratory alkalosis
P Wave
Atrial Depolarization
QRS Complex
Ventricular Depolarization
T Wave
Ventricular Repolarization
The heart is quiet and getting ready to beat
Polarization
The heart discharges its energy and beats
Depolarization
This big wave shows when the ventricles (the stronger, bottom part of the heart) squeeze and pump blood to the rest of your body
QRS Complex (Ventricular Depolarization)
which shows the heart resting and getting ready for the next beat
T Wave (Ventricular Repolarization)
This is when the top part of your heart (the atria) is getting ready and then squeezes to push blood down into the ventricles
P Wave (Atrial Depolarization)
how much blood fills up the heart right before it squeezes to pump blood out. The more blood in your heart, the bigger the “stretch” and the stronger the squeeze!
preload
how hard it has to squeeze to push the blood out into the blood vessels. If the blood vessels are tight, the heart has to work extra hard. If the blood vessels are relaxed, it’s easier for the heart to push the blood out.
afterload
How much blood fills the heart before it squeezes.
Preload
How hard the heart has to squeeze to push the blood out.
Afterload
Makes your heart beat faster and gets your body ready for action
Sympathetic System
Slows your heart down and helps you relax when you’re resting or calming down
Parasympathetic System
People take diuretics when their body holds on to too much water. This can happen if:
Your heart is working too hard and can’t pump blood well (like in heart failure).
Your blood pressure is too high, and your body needs to get rid of extra fluid to help bring it down.
You feel swollen (like in your legs or feet) because your body is holding on to too much fluid.
These are like a gentle sponge, helping to get rid of a little water and lower blood pressure.
Thiazide diuretics
These are a super-strong sponge, getting rid of a lot of water quickly (for people who need fast help, like in heart problems).
Loop diuretics
These sponges help get rid of water, but they hold on to potassium (a chemical in your body that’s important for your heart and muscles).
Potassium-sparing diuretics`
medicines that help your heart beat stronger
Inotropes
These make the heart beat stronger. They’re used when the heart isn’t pumping well, like during heart failure or after a heart attack.
Positive Inotropes
These make the heart beat less forcefully. They’re used when the heart is working too hard or too fast, like in high blood pressure or certain types of heart rhythm problems
Negative Inotropes
Examples of Positive Inotropes
Dobutamine
Dopamine
Epinephrine
Examples of Negative Inotropes
Beta-blockers (like metoprolol)
Calcium channel blockers (like verapamil)
a medicine that helps the heart work better, especially when it’s not beating strongly or regularly. It’s often used to treat conditions like heart failure and certain types of irregular heartbeats (arrhythmias), like atrial fibrillation.
Digoxin
Symptoms of digoxin toxicity
nausea, dizziness, confusion, or even dangerous heart rhythms.
is one of the most important electrolytes for the heart because it helps control the electrical signals that make the heart beat.
Potassium
an electrolyte imbalance: can slow down the heart and disrupt normal electrical signals
hyperkalemia
hyperkalemia in ECG
Tall, peaked T waves: The T wave, which shows the heart’s repolarization (resting after a beat), becomes very tall and pointy.
Widened QRS complex: The QRS wave, which represents the main squeeze (ventricular depolarization), can get wider, showing a problem with how the heart is pumping.
Flattened P waves: The P wave, which represents the top part of the heart (atria) contracting, can get smaller or disappear.
an electrolyte imbalance: can make the heart irritable and cause irregular heartbeats.
hypokalemia
hypokalemia in ECG
Flattened T waves or even inverted T waves: The heart’s relaxation (repolarization) is delayed.
U wave appearance: A small extra wave after the T wave may appear.
Prolonged QT interval: This means the heart is taking longer than usual to prepare for the next beat.
an electrolyte imbalance: can make the heart beat too quickly.
hypercalcemia
hypercalcemia in ECG
Shortened QT interval: The heart’s contraction and relaxation cycle happens too quickly, which can make the interval between beats shorter.
an electrolyte imbalance: can make the heart beat slower and affect the way it contracts.
hypocalcemia
hypocalcemia
Prolonged QT interval: The heart takes too long to contract and relax, making the interval between beats longer.
an electrolyte imbalance: can lead to irregular heartbeats or arrhythmias.
hypomagnesemia
hypomagnesemia in ECG
Prolonged QT interval: Just like low potassium and calcium, this can lead to dangerous arrhythmias.
happens when one of the blood vessels that brings blood to the heart gets blocked.
myocardial infarction
Sometimes, there’s a buildup of gunk (like cholesterol, which is a type of fat) inside the blood vessels. This is called
atherosclerosis
Signs of a Heart Attack
Chest Pain
Shortness of Breath
Pale
Diaphoretic
Nausea + Backpain
ST Elevation
Treatment for Heart Attack
MONA
Morphine
Oxygen
Nitroglycerin
Aspirin
Heparin
ARBS/ACE Inhibitor
Beta Blockers
Heart Attack Contraindication
Rectal Exam