Medications & Diagnostic Procedures Flashcards
Cardiac Diagnostic Procedures:
Cardiac Catheterization
- invasive procedure
- radiopaque catheter passes through large vein into the heart chamber.
- precise O2 measurement
Cardiac Diagnostic Procedures:
Chest x-ray
- radiograph using irradiation
- reveal size & contour of heart
- characteristics of pulmonary vascular markings.
Cardiac Diagnostic Procedures:
Echocardiography
- non-invasive
- ultrasound study of heart
- identifies heart size, structure, pattern of movement, hemodynamics, blood flow.
Cardiac Diagnostic Procedures:
Electrocardiography
- ECG machine
- records electrical impulses of heart via elctrodes
- 12 leads
- detection of cardiac dysrhythmias, electrolyte imbalances, monitor ECG changes during stress test.
Cardiac Diagnostic Procedures:
Exercise testing
- treadmill test
- identify significant cardiac compensation or inadequate cardiac output.
Cardiac Diagnostic Procedures:
Holter monitor
- portable ECG
- 24-48 hour recordings
- detect rhythm disturbances
Cardiac Diagnostic Procedures:
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
- doughnut shaped cylinder
- images of heart’s myocardium, structure, valve function, blood vessels & other soft tissues
Cardiac Diagnostic Lab Tests:
Arterial Blood Gas
- Arterial blood collected
- monitor adequacy of ventilation & oxygenation
- O2 carrying capacity
- acid-base levels
Cardiac Diagnostic Lab Tests:
CBC
- blood collected from vein
- hematocrit & hemoglobin levels assessed
- identify polycythemia or anemia
- WBC provides evidence of infection
Cardiac Diagnostic Lab Tests:
Serum digoxin levels
- blood from vein
- assess drug level range or toxicity
Cardiac Diagnostic Lab Tests:
Anti-streptolysin O
-provides documentation of a recent group A beta-hemolytic streptococcal infection
Cardiac Diagnostic Lab Tests:
Erythrocyte sedimentation rate
(ESR)
speed that RBC’s settle in a tube of anticoagulated blood
-changes in ESR help evaluate condition’s acuteness.
Cardiac Diagnostic Lab Tests:
C-reactive protein
- provides evidence of inflammation
- used to monitor rheumatic fever
Cardiac Diagnostic Lab Tests:
Serum lipid panel
-detects dyslipidemias
Statin drugs
- lovastatin, pravastatin, atorvastatin (lipitor)
- lipid lowering agent
- slows coronary atherosclerosis
Antihypertensives:
Diuretics
- furosemide (lasix), spironolactone, metolazone
- reduce fluid volume in vessels
- decreases: BP, edema
ACE inhibitors (RAAS drugs) (angiotensin-converting enzyme)
- lisinopril, losartan, valsartan
- inhibits vasocsonstriction via angiotensin converting enzyme
- acts on RAAS system
- decrease BP
Vasodilators
- diazoxide, hydralizine
- cause dilation of blood vessels
- decrease: BP, & afterload in pt w/ CHF.
Beta-blockers (adrenergic antagonists)
- metoprolol
- block beta1-adrenergic receptor sites in heart
- treat HTN & stable angina
- mask signs of hypoglycemia
Nonselective Alpha/Beta Antagonist
- carvedilol
- treat: CHF, HTN, stable angina, idiopathic myopathy
- decreases BP
- may affect blood glucose
Calcium-channel blockers
- nifedipine, verapamil, ditiazem
- reduces available calcium, muscle contractility, peripheral vascular resistance & BP.
- treats: angina, dysrhythmias, HTN
- migraines & CHF (off label use)
Cardiac glycosides
- digoxin
- causes heart to beat more forcefully & more slowly
- positive inotropic affect
- improves cardiac output
- monitor potassium
Nitrates
- nitroglycerine
- potent vasodilator (of veins & arteries)
- dilation of veins reduces preload.
- monitor for hypotension
Thrombolytics
- alteplase, streptokinase
- dissolve clots resulting in MI or stroke.
