Myocardial Infarction and Cardiac Arrest

Question 1

What is a Myocardial Infarction?

Answer 1

it occurs when there is an abrupt stoppage of blood flow through a coronary artery, causing irreversible myocardial cell death
- event in which perfusion of the cardiac muscle is decreased because of a blockage in a coronary artery

Question 2

What is released into the blood during an MI?

Answer 2

Serum cardiac biomarkers, troponin

Question 3

What is a STEMI?

Answer 3

STEMI= ST elevation in ECG leads facing the area of infarction
o Caused by an occlusive thrombus
o Requires immediate treatment with PCI (first line) or thrombolytic therapy to limit infarct size

Question 4

What is a NSTEMI?

Answer 4

ST depression and/or T wave inversion in ECG leads facing area of infarction
o Caused by a nonocclusive thrombus
o Pt. undergoes cardiac catheterization
o With possible PCI if no contradictions

Question 5

What part of the heart do MI’s mostly affect?

Answer 5

MI’s mostly affect the left ventricle and described based on location of damage

Question 6

What is cardiac arrest?

Answer 6

Event in which electrical impulses that cause myocardial contraction have been disrupted and the cardiac muscle stops functioning normally

Question 7

What occurs during cardiac arrest?

Answer 7

o Rapid decrease in cardiac output
o Lack of perfusion to life-sustaining organs
o If mechanical attempts to circulate blood immediately, brain tissue ischemia and injury and death occur

Question 8

What is an electrical problem?

Answer 8

Cardiac arrest

Question 9

What is a circulation problem?

Answer 9

MI

Question 10

What is the initial non-mechanical treatment for cardiac arrest?

Answer 10

Defibrillation of the myocardium