Cardiovascular System

Peripheral Perfusion

Delivery of oxygen-rich blood to the body’s extremities; assessed through skin temperature, color, capillary refill, and pulses.

Capillary Refill Time

The seconds it takes color to return to blanched nail beds (< 2 sec normal, > 3–4 sec suggests poor perfusion).

Heart Failure

Chronic condition in which the heart cannot pump sufficient blood to meet metabolic needs, causing fluid overload and decreased organ perfusion.

Left-Sided Heart Failure

Heart failure subtype where left-ventricular dysfunction leads to pulmonary congestion, crackles, and frothy pink sputum.

Frothy Pink-Tinged Sputum

Classic sign of severe pulmonary edema related to left-sided heart failure; indicates fluid and blood in alveoli.

Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT)

A clot in a deep vein, usually the leg; causes unilateral swelling, warmth, pain, and risk for embolus.

Thromboembolism

Obstruction of a blood vessel by a clot that has traveled from another site; threatens tissue perfusion downstream.

Arterial Embolus

A clot lodged in an artery causing sudden, severe limb pain, pallor, pulselessness, and mottled skin.

Bilateral Crackles

Fine or coarse lung sounds heard in both lungs; often signal fluid overload or heart failure.

Mottled Skin

Patchy, purplish skin discoloration from uneven perfusion, common in acute arterial occlusion or shock.

Renal Perfusion

Blood flow to the kidneys; inadequate flow manifests as urine output < 30 mL/hr or rising creatinine.

Serum Lactate

Lab marker of anaerobic metabolism; elevated (> 2 mmol/L) indicates tissue hypoxia and poor perfusion.

Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST)

Liver enzyme that rises when hepatic cells are injured, including from low perfusion or shock.

Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT)

Liver enzyme elevated alongside AST during hepatic hypoperfusion or drug toxicity.

Serum Creatinine

Waste product used to gauge kidney function; high levels point to decreased renal perfusion or failure.

Hypertensive Crisis

Sudden, severe elevation of blood pressure (> 180/120 mmHg) risking organ damage; requires prompt intervention.

Lisinopril

An ACE inhibitor that lowers blood pressure and reduces heart-failure workload by blocking angiotensin II.

Atenolol

A β₁-selective blocker that decreases heart rate and myocardial oxygen demand, treating hypertension and angina.

Metformin

Biguanide oral hypoglycemic that lowers hepatic glucose output; unrelated to perfusion but must be timed with meals.

Tamsulosin

α-adrenergic blocker used for BPH; relaxes urethral smooth muscle, improving urine flow.

Celecoxib

COX-2 selective NSAID for pain/inflammation; carries cardiovascular risk, so use cautiously in heart disease.

HIPAA Privacy Rule

U.S. law that protects patient health information; forbids sharing details without consent—even with colleagues.

Orthostatic Blood Pressure

Series of BP readings lying, sitting, standing to detect drops ≥20 SBP or ≥10 DBP indicating volume depletion.

Gait Belt

Safety device placed around a patient’s waist to assist with transfers and prevent falls during ambulation.

Clopidogrel

Antiplatelet drug that prevents clot formation; adverse effect: bleeding evidenced by dark or tarry stools.

Melena

Black, tarry stool caused by upper GI bleeding; may occur with antiplatelets or anticoagulants.

Mean Arterial Pressure (MAP)

Average arterial pressure during a single cardiac cycle; MAP = (DBP × 2 + SBP) ÷ 3 (normal 70–100 mmHg).

Pulse Pressure

Difference between systolic and diastolic BP (SBP – DBP); narrow pulse pressure suggests HF or hypovolemia.

CMS Check

Assessment of Circulation, Movement, Sensation distal to an injury or cast to detect neurovascular compromise.

Bounding Pulse

Very strong pulse often seen with fluid overload or sympathetic stimulation; indicates high stroke volume.

Diuretic Therapy

Use of drugs (e.g., furosemide) to promote fluid excretion; watch for hypotension and electrolyte loss.

Hypovolemia

Low circulating blood volume due to dehydration or hemorrhage; manifests as tachycardia and hypotension.

Fluid Overload

Excess intravascular and interstitial volume causing weight gain, edema, crackles, and bounding pulses.

Unilateral Leg Swelling

One-sided edema suggestive of DVT or lymphatic obstruction rather than systemic heart failure.

Dorsalis Pedis Pulse

Arterial pulse on the top of the foot; absence may indicate arterial occlusion or embolus.

Troponin

Cardiac biomarker released when myocardial cells are injured; elevated levels signal heart damage, not perfusion alone.

Hemoglobin

Oxygen-carrying protein in RBCs; low levels impair tissue oxygenation and can accompany chronic heart failure.

Postpartum Hemorrhage

Excessive bleeding after childbirth leading to tachycardia, hypotension, and decreased organ perfusion.