Nursing Management: Patients With Structural, Inflammatory, and Infectious Cardiac Disorders

These flashcards cover vocabulary terms related to nursing management of structural, inflammatory, and infectious cardiac disorders, including definitions and explanations of relevant conditions and treatments.

Valvular Disease

A condition in which one or more heart valves do not close or open properly, affecting blood flow.

Stenosis

A condition where the opening of a valve is narrowed, reducing forward blood flow.

Regurgitation

Occurs when valves do not close completely, allowing blood to flow backward through the valve.

Mitral Stenosis

Narrowing of the mitral valve orifice impairing blood flow from the left atrium to the left ventricle.

Symptoms of Mitral Stenosis

Include dyspnea on exertion (DOE), paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea (PND), and atrial fibrillation.

Aortic Stenosis

A narrowing of the valve opening between the left ventricle and the aorta, causing obstruction of blood flow.

Aortic Regurgitation

Backflow of blood into the left ventricle from the aorta during diastole.

Cardiomyopathy

A disease of the heart muscle that makes it less able to pump effectively, leading to cardiomegaly and heart failure.

Symptoms of Infective Endocarditis

Include fever, night sweats, malaise, weight loss, and can lead to embolization.

Diagnosis of Infective Endocarditis

Involves health history, ECG changes, chest x-ray, and echocardiography.

Valvuloplasty

A surgical procedure to repair a cardiac valve.

Anticoagulants

Medications used to prevent blood clot formation in patients with mechanical heart valves.

Clinical Manifestations of Myocarditis

Includes inflammation of the heart muscle, often due to viral infections.

Prevention of Heart Failure

Goals include monitoring safety, promoting medication compliance, and making lifestyle changes.

Complications of Aortic Stenosis

May include aortic dissection and left ventricular hypertrophy.