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Study Guide: Cardiology and Resuscitation (Crash Course)
Source: https://www.fatskills.com/introduction-to-health-sciences/chapter/cardiology-and-resuscitation-crash-course

Cardiology and Resuscitation (Crash Course)

By Fatskills Exam Guides Team — the exam nerds behind 28,500+ quizzes and 2.1M practice questions across 500+ global exams.

⏱️ ~6 min read

afterload
resistance the left heart overcomes during contraction

aneurysm
a weakening in the wall of an artery

ascites
edema in the abdomen

cardiac hypertrophy
enlargement of the heart, often due to hypertension

cardiac output
volume of blood ejected by left ventricle in one minute(stroke volume x HR)

chronotrope
rate of contraction

dromotrope
speed of conduction velocity

endocarditis
infection of the endocardium, usually involving the heart valves

ejection fraction
percentage of blood ejected from a filled ventricle

failure to capture
ventricles fail to respond to an impulse. on an ECG, the pacemaker spike will appear, but it will not be followed by a QRS complex.

failure to sense
pacemaker malfunction that occurs when the pacemaker does not detect the pts myocardial depolarization. may be seen on an ECG tracing as a spike following a QRS complex too early.

inotrope
force of contraction

orthopnea
difficulty breathing when lying down

paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea
acute onset of difficulty breathing at night, usually while sleeping

pericarditis
inflammation of the pericardium

preload
volume of fluid returning to the right heart

prinzmetal's angina
variable angina caused by coronary artery spasms

starling's law
the more the heart is stretched w/in limits, the greater the resulting force of contraction

stroke volume
the amount of blood ejected by the left ventricle in one contraction

layers of the heart
endocardium
myocardium
epicardium
pericardium

bloodflow through the heart
vena cava
R atrium
R ventricle
pulmonary arteries
lungs
pulmonary veins
L atrium
L ventricle
aorta
body

Systemic Vascular Resistance (SVR)
resistance to blood flow throughout the body

L coronary artery
perfuses L ventricle, interventricular septum, portion of the R ventricle, and the cardiac conduction system

mainbranches of the LCA
L anterior descending
L circumflex artery

R coronary artery
perfuses part of the R atrium and ventricle and part of cardiac conduction system

mainbranches of RCA
posterior descending artery
R marginal artery

SA node
heart primary pacemaker; beats between 60-100bpm

AV node
hearts 1st backup pacemaker; beats between 40-60bpm

Bundle of His
hearts final pacemaker; beats between 20-40bpm

sinus rhythms and dysrhythmias
sinus rhythm
sinus brady
sinus tach
sinus block
sinus arrest

atrial rhythms and dysrhythmias
SVT
PSVT
AFlutter
AFib
PACs
WAP
MAT

AV blocks
1st degree
2nd degree type 1
2nd degree type 2
2nd degree block 2:1 conduction
3rd degree

juctional rhythms and dysrhythmias
junctional escape
junctional brady
accelerated junctional
PJC
junctional escape complexes
junctional escape

ventricular rhythms and dysrythmias
accelerated IVR
VTach
VFib
Torsades
ventricular escape complexes
ventricular escape
PVC

additional rhythms
asystole
artificial pacemaker rhythms

common s/s of cardiac emergencies
chest pain or pressure
dyspnea
palpitations
diaphoresis
restlessness, anxiety
feeling of impending doom
nausea/vomiting
weakness
edema
syncope
denial

general management of cardiac emergencies
assess ABCs
BLS & ACLS interventions as indicated for cardiac arrest
O2 above 94%
continuous ECG monitoring
IV access & pharmacological interventions
rapid transport to closest appropriate facility

management of cardiac dysrhythmias
determine stable vs. unstable
follow appropriate ACLS algorithm
>vagals for tachydysrhythmias
>pharmacological interventions
>appropriate electrical interventions

acute coronary syndrome (ACS)
angina, unstable angina, and acute myocardial infarction

stable angina
transient chest pain due to myocardial ischemia
often provoked by exertion or stress
typically lasts less than 30min. and resolved w/rest or nitro

unstable angina
new onset angina
angina for atleast 20min while at rest
frequent angina episodes or increasing duration of angina

Acute Myocardial Infarction (AMI)
irreversible nerosis of myocardial muscle and diagnosed by ECG changes and elevated myocardial blood enzymes

CHF- L heart failure
L ventricular dysfunction causes backpressure into pulmonary circulation
dyspnea and pulmonary edema are common w/L heart failure
myocardial infarction is a common cause of L heart failure

CHF- R heart failure
R ventricular dysfunction causes backpressure into systemic venous circulation
JVD and pedal edema are common w/R heart failure
L heart failure is the most frequent cause of R heart failure

s/s of CHF
pulmonary edema(L)
dyspnea(L)
paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea(L)
orthopnea(L)
mottled skin
weakness
ascites(R)
JVD(R)
bilateral pedal edema(R)
pt w/hx of CHF are often prescribed meds such as digoxin, a diuretic, and ACD inhibitor, and a potassium supplement.

management of CHF
avoid placing pt supine
supplemental o2
CPAP
ECG monitoring
IV access
nitro
use of narcotics and diuretics in CHF pts has been ineffective and possible harmful

cardiac tamponade
excess fluid accumulation in the pericardial sac impairing diastolic filling and reducing cardiac output

S/S of a Cardiac tamponade
chest pain
dyspnea
beck's triad(JVD,narrowing pulse pressure,muffled heart tones)

Management of cardiac tamponade
highflow o2
IV fluids
consider vasopressors, such as dopamine
rapid transport

s/s hypertensive emergencies
elevation in BP
hx of hypertensive disorder
noncompliance w/anti-hypertensive meds
pregnancy
nosebleed

management of hypertensive emergencies
manage ABCs
supplemental o2
place in position of comfort
IV access
transport

Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA)
weakened wall of artery that is prone to rupture and massive bleeding

AAA s/s
most common in older males
tearing back pain
possible hx of hypertension, smoking, atherosclerosis, family hx of AAA
possible pulsating abd mass
varying BP between L and R arm of atleast 15-20mmHg
s/s of hypovolemic shock

AAA management
general management of ALS pt
keep pt still
caution when palpating abd
transport rapidly to appropriate facility w/surgical capabilities

cardiogenic shock
persistent, severe L ventricular pump failure despite correction of existing dysrhythmias, hypovolemia, or widespread vasodilation

S/S of cardiogenic shock
hypotension
tachycardia
chest pain
dyspnea
ALOC
weakness
hx of trauma or MI

Management of cardiogenic shock
ABCs
position of comfort if possible
o2
consider CPAP
consider vasopressor meds, like dopamine
rapid transport

highlights of current AHA BLS guidelines
rate:100-120bpm
depth of adult compressions: 2-2.4'
depth of child compressions: 2'
depth of infant compressions: 1.5'
adult compression/ventilation ratio:30-2
infant and child comp:vent ratio:30-2(1 rescuer) 15-2(2 rescuer)
vent. rate w/advanced airway- 10min-adults; 12-20min-peds
ensure full chest recoil between compressions
minimize interruptions in compressions
avoid hyperventilation
utilize AED to determine need for defibrillation ASAP
o2 to maintain 94%

highlights of current AHA ALS guidelines
vasopressin no longer recommended for cardiac arrest
amiodarone or lidocaine may be used for VF or pulseless VT after CPR, defibrillation, and epi
consider termination of efforts if unable to obtain ETCO2 above 10mmHg in an intubated pt after 20min of CPR
atropine indicated for symptomatic bradycardia
consider dopamine or epi infusion or TEP for symptomatic bradycardia unresponsive to atropine
12 lead ECG should be obtained prehospital for suspected acute coronary syndrome to assess for STEMI

highlights of current AHA PALS guidelines
early, rapid admin of isotonic IV fluids at 20mL/kg recommended for pedi pts w/hypovolemia or sepsis
amiodarone or lidocaine can be used for shock-refractory VT or pulseless VT
admin. o2 as indicated to maintain SpO2 between 94-99%



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