Exam #2: Dysrhythmias And Cardiac Arrest Flashcards
Acute Coronary Syndrome
When ischemia is prolonged and is not immediately reversible, acute coronary syndrome (ACS) develops.
ACS encompasses
- Unstable angina (UA)
- Non–ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) (partial occlusion)
- ST-segment-elevation MI (STEMI) (total occlusion)
Relationships among CAD, Chronic stable angina and ACS
On slide 12
Acute Coronary Syndrome: Pathophysiology
- On the cellular level, the heart muscle becomes hypoxic within the first 10 seconds of a total coronary occlusion.
- Heart cells are deprived of oxygen and glucose needed for aerobic metabolism and contractility.
- Anaerobic metabolism begins and lactic acid accumulates.
- In ischemic conditions, heart cells are viable for approximately 20 minutes.
- Irreversible heart damage starts after 20 minutes if there is no collateral circulation.
Location and Patterns of Angina and MI
- Although most angina pain occurs substernally, it may radiate to other locations, including the jaw, neck, shoulders, and/or arms.
- Many people with angina complain of indigestion or a burning sensation in the epigastric region.
- The sensation may also be felt between the shoulder blades.
- Often people who complain of pain between the shoulder blades or indigestion type pain dismiss it as not being heart related.
- Some patients, especially women and older adults, report atypical symptoms of angina including dyspnea, nausea, and/or fatigue (This is referred to as angina equivalent)
ACS: Etiology and Pathophysiology
- Caused by the decline of a once stable atherosclerotic plaque. The previously stable plaque ruptures, releasing substances into the vessel. This stimulates platelet aggregation and thrombus formation.
- This area may be partially occluded by a thrombus (manifesting as UA or NSTEMI) or totally occluded by a thrombus (manifesting as STEMI).
- What causes a coronary plaque to suddenly become unstable is not well understood, but systemic inflammation (described earlier) is thought to play a role.
Clinical Manifestations of ACS: Unstable Angina
- New in onset
- Occurs at rest, unpredictable
- Increase in frequency, duration, or with less effort
- Pain lasting > 10 minutes
- Needs immediate treatment
- Symptoms in women often under-recognized
Clinical Manifestations of ACS: MI
- STEMI and NSTEMI
- Result of abrupt stoppage of blood flow through a coronary artery, causing irreversible myocardial cell death (necrosis)
What can cause MI?
- # 1 Preexisting CAD
- STEMI - occlusive thrombus
- NSTEMI - non-occlusive thrombus
**Read notes on PowerPoint
The earliest tissue to become ischemic in MI is the
Subendocardium (innermost layer of the heart muscle)
How long does it take the heart to become necrosed if ischemia were to persist?
- 4-6 hours for the entire thickness of the heart muscle to become necrosed
- If the thrombus is not completely blocking the artery, the time to complete necrosis may be as long as 12 hours
Read slide 18 notes
+look at ECG changes on slide 19 and what it represents
Acute MI Classifications
- Transmural MI (all muscle layers of the heart)
2. Non-Q-wave MI: subendocardial and subepicardial
12-lead ECG in transmural MI
New pathological Q-waves
MI Locataions
- Anterior wall infarction
- Left lateral wall infarction
- Inferior wall infarction
- Right ventricular infarction
- Posterior wall infarction
Correlations among Ventricular Surfaces, Electrocardiographic Leads, and Coronary Arteries
..
If ST elevation is shown in electrocardiographic leads II, III, aVF, what area of the heart and what coronary artery is involved?
- Inferior surface of left ventricle
- Coronary Artery: Right coronary artery
If ST elevation is shown in leads V5-V6, I, aVL, what area of the heart and what coronary artery is involved?
Lateral surface of left ventricle and left circumflex coronary artery.
If ST elevation is shown in leads V2-V4, what area of the heart and what coronary artery is involved?
Surface of Left Ventricle: Anterior
Coronary Artery Involved: Left anterior descending
If ST elevation is shown in leads V1-V6, I, aVL, what area of the heart and what coronary artery is involved?
Surface of Left Ventricle: Anterior lateral
Coronary Artery: Left main coronary artery
If ST elevation is shown in leads V1-V2, what area of the heart and what coronary artery is involved?
Surface of Left Ventricle: Can be septal or posterior
Coronary Artery: Left anterior descending or left circumflex or right coronary artery (reciprocal changes)
Clincial Manifestations of ACS: MI
- Pain
- Cardiovascular Changes
- Catecholamine release and stimulation of SNS
- Nausea and vomiting
- Fever
Clinical Manifestations of ACS - MI: Pain
- Severe chest pain not relieved by rest, position change, or nitrate administration
- Heaviness, pressure, tightness, burning, constriction, crushing
- Substernal or epigastric
- May radiate to neck, lower jaw, arms, back
- Often occurs in early morning
- Atypical in women, elderly
- No pain if cardiac neuropathy (diabetes)
*Read notes on slide
Clinical Manifestations of ACS - MI: Catecholamine Release and Stimulation of SNS
- Release of glycogen
- Diaphoresis
- Increased HR and BP
- Vasoconstriction of peripheral blood vessels
- Skin: ashen, clammy, and/or cool to touch
Clinical Manifestations of ACS - MI: Cardiovascular changes
- Initially, ↑ HR and BP, then ↓ BP (secondary to ↓ in CO)
- Crackles
- Jugular venous distention
- Abnormal heart sounds
- S3 or S4
- New murmur
*Read notes on slide!
Clinical Manifestations of ACS - MI: Nausea and vomiting
- Reflex stimulation of the vomiting center by severe pain
- Can result form vasovagal reflex from the area of the infarcted heart muscle
- Not always seen
Clinical Manifestations of ACS - MI: Fever
- Up to 100.4° F (38° C) in first 24-48 hours
- Systemic inflammatory process caused by heart cell death
Myocardial Infarction Healing Process
- Within 24 hours, leukocytes infiltrate the area of cell death
- Proteolytic enzymes of neutrophils and macrophages begin to remove necrotic tissue by fourth day → thin wall
- Necrotic zone identifiable by ECG changes
- Collagen matrix laid down
Myocardial Infarction Healing Process: at 10-14 days
- Scar tissue is still weak.
- Heart muscle will be vulnerable to increased stress during this time because of the unstable state of the healing heart wall.
- Need to monitor patient carefully as activity level increases
Myocardial Infarction Healing Process: By 6 weeks after MI,
- Scar tissue has replaced necrotic tissue. (May be manifested by abnormal wall motion on an ECG or nuclear imaging, LV dysfunction, altered conduction patterns, HF)
- Area is said to be healed, but less compliant
Ventricular Remodeling
Normal myocardium will hypertrophy and dilate in an attempt to compensate for infarcted muscle
What are complications of MI?
- Dysrhythmias
- Heart failure
- Cardiogenic Shock
- Papillary Muscle Dysfunction
- Left Ventricular Aneurysm
- Ventricular septal wall rupture and left ventricular wall rupture
- Acute pericarditis
- Dressler syndrome
Complications of MI: Dysrhythmias
- Most common complication
- Can be caused by ischemia, electrolyte imbalances or SNS stimulation (H’s and T’s)
- VT and VF are most common cause of death in prehospitalization period
Complications of MI: Heart Failure
-Occurs when pumping power of the heart is diminished
Symptoms of Left-sided HF
Mild dyspnea, restlessness, agitation, slight tachycardia initially
Symptoms of Right-sided HF
Jugular venous distention, hepatic congestion, lower extremity edema
Complications of MI: Cardiogenic shock occurs because of
Severe LV failure, papillary muscle rupture, ventricular septal rupture, LV free wall rupture, right ventricular infarction
*Read slide notes
Complications of MI: Papillary muscle dysfunction or rupture
- Causes mitral valve regurgitation
- Aggravates an already compromised LV → rapid clinical deterioration
*Read notes on slide
Complications of MI: Left ventricular aneurysm
- Myocardial wall becomes thinned and bulges out during contraction
- Leads to HF, dysrhythmias, and angina
Complications of MI: Ventricular septal wall rupture and left ventricular free wall rupture
- *New, loud systolic murmur
- HF and cardiogenic shock
- Emergency repair
- Rare condition associated with high death rate
*Read notes on slide
Complications of MI: Acute pericarditis
- Inflammation of visceral and/or parietal pericardium
- Mild to severe chest pain
- Increases with inspiration, coughing, movement of upper body
- Relieved by sitting in forward position
- Assess for the presence of pericardial friction rub
- ECG changes (STEMI)