Intro to Cardio

Question 1

What are the common cardiac complaints?

Answer 1

1. Chest pain
2. Difficulty breathing
3. Palpitations
4. Lightheadedness
5. Syncope

Question 2

What are the cardiac etiologies of chest pain?

Answer 2

1. Acute MI
2. Acute pericarditis
3. CHF

Question 3

What are the vascular etiologies of chest pain?

Answer 3

1. Aortic dissection

Question 4

What are the pulmonary etiologies of chest pain?

Answer 4

1. PE
2. Acute pneumothorax
3. Pneumonia
4. Lung cancer

Question 5

What are the GI etiologies of chest pain?

Answer 5

1. GERD
2. Hiatal hernia
3. Esophageal motility disorders
4. Gallstones
5. PUD

Question 6

What are the MSK etiologies of chest pain?

Answer 6

1. Costochondritis (Tietze’s Syndrome)
2. Dermatologic
3. Herpes zoster

Question 7

What general Dx studies will be done for a cardiac pt?

Answer 7

1. EKG
2. Medical Imaging
   A. CXR
   B. CT
3. Cardiac enzymes
   A. Troponin, CK MB
4. D-Dimer
5. Echocardiogram
6. Stress test
7. Arterial blood gas
8. Upper endoscopy
9. UGI
10. RUQ Sonogram
    A. Cholelithiasis

Question 8

Define function of SA node

Answer 8

Main pacemaker

Generates impulses 60-100 times/min

Question 9

Define function of bachman’s bundle

Answer 9

Tracts from SA node to L atrium

Question 10

Define function of internodal tracts

Answer 10

Tracts that transmit impulses through R atrium

Question 11

Define function of AV node

Answer 11

1. Responsible for delaying impulses that reach it to allow the ventricles to complete their filling as the atria contract
2. Allows the cardiac muscle to stretch to its fullest for peak cardiac output

Question 12

Define function of bundle of His

Answer 12

1. Tract of tissue extending into ventricles next to interventricular septum
2. Responsible for rapid conduction through ventricles
3. Divides into R & L bundle branches

Question 13

What does the Left bundle branch split into?

Answer 13

L bundle splits into L anterior fasciculus & L posterior fasciculus

Question 14

What is the function of the purkinje fibers?

Answer 14

1. Carry impulses from bundles to ventricular myocardium

2. Conduct Action Potential (AP) very quickly

Question 15

What is the rate of ectopic pacemakers?

Answer 15

1. Junctional tissue – 40-60 times/min

2. Purkinje fibers – 20-40 times/min

Question 16

Define retrograde conduction

Answer 16

1. Impulses that begin below AV node can be transmitted backward towards atria
   A. Atria & ventricles can beat out of synch

Question 17

Define reentry events

Answer 17

Impulses can cause depolarization during the later phase of repolarization of previous impulse

Question 18

What murmur sounds like “Tennessee”

Answer 18

S4

Question 19

What murmur sounds like “Kentucky”

Answer 19

S3

Question 20

What EKG changes will been seen with pericarditis?

Answer 20

EKG shows elevated ST segments in all leads

Question 21

What does an echocardiogram assess?

Answer 21

Ejection fraction

Question 22

What does a stress test assess?

Answer 22

Check EKG while exercising to check the coronary supply 
Looking for:
EKG changes
SOB
Chest pain

Question 23

Define a nuclear stress test?

Answer 23

1. A nuclear stress test measures blood flow to your heart at rest and while your heart is working harder as a result of exertion or medication. The test provides images that can show areas of low blood flow through the heart and damaged heart muscle.

Question 24

Define upper endoscopy

Answer 24

1. An upper endoscopy is a procedure used to visually examine your upper digestive system with a tiny camera on the end of a long, flexible tube. A specialist in diseases of the digestive system (gastroenterologist) uses endoscopy to diagnose and, sometimes, treat conditions that affect the esophagus, stomach and beginning of the small intestine (duodenum).