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COTAC Exam 3 Review - Cardiac 2 - Ameritech

Terms in this set (36)

How is atrial flutter described, and what does it look like?
-A sawtooth pattern in between the QRS complex
-The QRS complex can be regular or irregular
How do we treat atrial flutter?
-Anticoagulants
-Cardioversion (similar to defib but it's planned)
-Ablation

(The same as atrial fibrillation)
What are signs of a left-sided stroke?
-Aphasia (loss of ability to understand or express speech)
-Agraphia (loss of ability to read and/or write)
-Slow Performance (takes them longer to do simple things)

Possible Signs:
-Awareness of deficits
-Anxiousness
-Guilt
A patient is experiencing aphasia, agraphia, and slow performance. They also are aware of these deficits and feel a sense of anxiousness and guilt. What's the most likely diagnosis with this patient?
Left-sided stroke
If someone has a left-sided stroke, what side of the body will be affected?
Right side
If someone has a right-sided stroke, what side of the body will be affected?
Left
If a patient is experiencing aphasia (loss of the ability to speak) or/and agraphia (inability to read or write) how would you communicate with them?
- Make sure you have the person's attention before you start.
- Minimize or eliminate background noise (TV, radio, other people).
- Keep your own voice at a normal level, unless the person has indicated otherwise.
- Keep communication simple, but adult.
Side effects of this class of drugs include dizziness, low blood pressure, angioedema, or dry cough?
ACE Inhibitors
What are side effects you'll see in ACE inhibitors?
-Dizziness
-Low blood pressure
-Dry Cough (ongoing and non-productive)
-Angioedema
How is atrial fibrillation described, and what does it look like?
(The most common dysrhythmia you'll come across)

- Lots of tiny P waves
- Irregular rhythm (QRS' will not be the same distance apart)
What's the treatment for Atrial fibrillation?
- Blood thinners
- Beta blockers
- Cardioversion (Electrical shock to get the rhythm normal again)
If a patient with Atrial fibrillation has tried blood thinners, beta blockers, and cardioversion, but nothing has been successful for months, what would be the next thing they would do to correct the issue?
Ablation

This is a minimally invasive surgery that uses small burns/freezes to add scarring to the inside of the heart to help break up the electrical signals causing irregular heartbeats.
Is a change is heart rhythm worth notifying the provider about?
Yes
What is the preferred position for someone with venous insufficiency?
Legs elevated (promotes venous return)
If someone has hypertension, what will we ask them to use in order to track their blood pressure at home?
-Blood pressure journal

-This is done to look for trends in blood pressure. We would hope the blood pressure trends down over the months and be managed without of the use of medications.
When a patient's blood pressure has been doing better and better each month, how will they take the patient off of the medication?
A slow taper (slowly decreasing medications until they can be off of it without abruptly stopping them)
How long does someone's blood pressure need to be controlled for until they can start weaning off of them?
1 year or more
What is the anticholinergic medication that raises the heart rate?
Atropine
In what instances would atropine be used?
- Symptomatic bradycardia (slower heart rates when patients are weak or dizzy...etc.)
How is asystole described, and what does it look like?
"Flat line"
What is the first thing we should do when a patient presents with asystole?
Check the patient!

Always assess the leads and the patient first

Then you can start CPR if it's really asystole
Is asystole a shockable rhythm?
No!

Do CPR after checking the leads and patient
What are the risk factors for aneurysms?
-Male
-Atherosclerosis (vessels getting clogged)
-Uncontrolled hypertension
-Smoking
-Hyperlipidemia
-Family history of aneurysms
-Blunt force trauma
-Untreated Syphilis (bacterial infection that spreads through sexual contact)
-Increasing age (usually 50+)
What's the cause of primary hypertension?
We don't really know (idiopathic). All we know is that primary hypertension doesn't come from any other underlying medical condition.

cues Born This Way by Lady Gaga
What scale is used to gauge stroke severity?
NIHSS
Patients taking hypertensive medications should be aware of the signs and symptoms of hypotension, in the case that their medications start working "too well". What are the signs and symptoms of hypotension?
-Dizziness
-Lightheaded
-Tiredness
-Confusion
-Syncope (fainting/sudden loss of consciousness)
What are the risk factors for a VTE (blood clots)?
-Surgery
-Heart Failure
-Immobility
-Pregnancy
-Oral Contraceptives
-Active Cancer
How is ventricular tachycardia described, and what does it look like?
Very high jagged rhythm "tomb stones"
If a patient has v tach, what do you do first?
Check for a pulse


If there's a pulse ask them to bear down

If there's no pulse you do CPR and defibrillate
Your patient is found in pulseless v tach. CPR is initiated. What medications do you anticipate being administered?
-Epinephrine
-Amiodarone
What are drugs used for PAD (peripheral artery disease)?
- Antiplatelets
- Antilipidemics (-statin drugs)
In addition to surgery, an AAA (abdominal aortic aneurysm) are treated with what else?
Fluid resuscitation
How is third degree heart block described, and what does it look like?
What are treatments for third degree heart block?
Transcutaneous pacer Until they can get a pace maker
What can cause third degree heart block?
-Medications
-Heart disease
-Surgeries
What's a big sign of Raynaud's disease?
White digits
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