Chapter 17: Cardiac Function and Chapter 21:

lipid profile testing

includes cholesterol, triglycerides, high density lipoproteins (HDLS) and low density lipoproteins (LDLS), proportions of these tests indicate the risk factor for an individual to develop coronary disease

• high levels of cholesterol and triglycerides are predisposing factors to heart disease

• high levels of HDL

• low levels of LDL

arterial blood gases

involve testing for current oxygen, CO2, bicarbonate and pH levels

troponin

proteins found in cardiac muscle which are released when damage to the muscle has occurred (increasing high levels of troponin indicate myocardial infarction)

brain natriuretic peptide (BNP-B)

a hormone released from the heart ventricles when damage has occurred

efficacy of cardiac medications

• digoxin

• antihypertensive drugs

• anticoagulants

• cholesterol-lowering drygs

• nitroglycerin - a vasodilator used to open up blood vessels that is used to treat chest pain

complete blood count

help to aid in diagnosis of heart disease (non specific = more follow up tests)

blood cultures

performed to asses microorganisms that cause septicemia: blood poisoning, when bacteria enter and multiply in blood stream and infect

ultrasonography

utilizes high frequency sound waves which bounce off body structures to obtain images

doppler ultrasound

involves measuring sound waves which are reflected from moving RBCs (used to assess the blood flow in arteries and veins)

echocardiography

uses sound waves to measure the efficiency of heart valves and heart functions

two types…

1. transesophageal - invasive use for suspected endocarditis

2. trasnsthoracic - transducer placed on chest wall

chest x ray

can show the shape and size of the heart and any evidence of pulmonary congestion of heart failure

muscular imaging

utilizes the injection of radioactive substances such as thallium, the images produced can asses a patient after myocardial infarction, the extent of myocardial perfusion and the functions of the ventricles

types…

1. tomography - illustrate various lvls of a tissue mass

2. nuclear medicine - which are used to identify or determine the extent of dead or damaged areas of myocardial tissues

cardiac catheterization

an invasive test, catheter passes through an appropriate blood vessel into the heart ventricle, assess coronary arteries after myocardial infarction (used to visualize the inside of the heart, measures pressures, asses valve and heart function)

coronary angiography

an invasive test, done in conjunction with cardiac catheterization and is used to visualize blood flow in the coronary arteries (gets dye into artery to monitor using ultrasound)

SPECT

non - invasive, specialized CAT scan that accurately assesses cardiac ischemia @ rest

electrocardiography

procedure is a non invasive, utilizes electrodes to illustrate the conduction system then detects abnormalities of the heart (useful in initial diagnosis of MI)

answers to study guide

1. labs for MI = look at troponin lvls (higher lvls indicate MI)

2. test for septicemia = blood cultures (looking at bacteria that would cause it)

3. test for CAD = lipid panal (all should be high lvls except LDLs)

acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS)

is an acute lung inflammation and can lead to acute respiratory failure

acute respiratory failure

occurs when there is a direct injury to the lungs such as in flail chest or pneumothorax or a process such as CNS depression, or restrictive lung disease that cause inadequate gas exchange (hypoxemia / hypercapnia)

• will also occur if there is cardiac failure that does not allow oxygen to be transported to body tissues (type of indirect hypoxia lung injury)

hypoxia

occurs when the volume of air flowing in and out of the lungs does not correspond with the blood flow to the lungs (lack of oxygen)

• the partial pressure of O2 (PaO2) will be decrease below normal and PaCO2 will be normal or decreased

hypercapnia

occurs when there is inadequate ventilation @ the alveolar lvl and CO2 is unable to be eliminated (high lvls of CO2)

• PaCO2 will increase and PaO2 will decrease

predisposing factors of ARF

• very young and very old

• person with CNS dysfunction

• cardiac insufficienyc

• cystic fibrosis (thick mucus)

• restrictive lung diseases (emphysema, bronchitis)

• flail chest

etiology of ARF

• low lvls of O2 and high levels of CO2 in the blood or @ same time

• diseases and conditions (ie. asthma, COPD, cervical spine injuries, respiratory muscle disease)

• chronic disease with acute disorder combo

• occurs when either insufficient O2 is transferred into the blood or inadequate CO2 is expelled from the lungs

ARDS

rapidly progressive type of ARF that results in damage to the alevoli and capillary membrane

(not disease itself, caused by any disease or factors that together cause lung injury either directly or indirectly)

hypoxemia respiratory failure

occurs when the lungs cannot get enough oxygen into the blood, even though the person is breathing

hypercapnia respiratory failure

occurs when the lungs cannot remove enough carbon dioxide (CO₂) from the body, causing CO₂ to build up in the bloodstream.