Cardiovascular System, Tissue Perfusion, and Vascular Disorders

Comprehensive practice flashcards covering cardiovascular medications, stages and types of shock, emergency pharmacology, and peripheral vascular diseases including arterial and venous disorders.

ACE Inhibitors (Captopril, Enalapril)

Medications that block the conversion of angiotensin I to angiotensin II; adverse effects include dizziness, orthostatic hypertension, persistent cough, and hyperkalemia.

Losartan

An Angiotensin II Receptor Blocker (ARB) that prevents the binding of angiotensin II with tissue receptor sites, taking $3\text{--}6$ weeks for maximal effects.

Ma-huang (ephedra)

An herbal substance that decreases the effect of antihypertensive medications and increases hypertension when taken with beta-blockers.

Black cohosh

An herb that increases the hypotensive effects of antihypertensive medications.

Goldenseal

An herb known to counteract the effects of antihypertensive medications.

Shock

A sudden reduction of oxygen and nutrients caused by decreased blood volume, resulting in reduced venous return, decreased cardiac output, and decreased arterial pressure.

Hypovolemic shock

A type of shock resulting from the loss of fluid from circulation, caused by conditions like hemorrhage, burns, diabetic ketoacidosis, or excessive use of diuretics.

Cardiogenic shock

Shock characterized by decreased cardiac output secondary to myocardial infarction, dysrhythmias, or pump failure.

Distributive shock

Shock caused by inadequate vascular tone, which may be neural-induced (anesthesia, spinal cord injury) or chemical-induced (anaphylaxis, toxic shock).

Compensatory stage of shock

A dynamic condition where cardiac output is reduced, but compensatory vasoconstriction maintains blood pressure within a normal range while decreasing flow to the skin and kidneys.

Progressive stage of shock

The stage of shock marked by falling blood pressure, increasing vasoconstriction, increased heart rate, and oliguria.

Irreversible stage of shock

The final stage where no therapy can save the client's life, characterized by myocardial depression and blood pooling in dilated capillary beds.

Nasal cannula

An oxygen delivery method providing $23\text{--}42\%$ oxygen at a flow rate of $1\text{--}6\,L/min$.

Nonrebreather mask

An oxygen delivery method providing $80\text{--}100\%$ oxygen at a flow rate of $12\,L/min$, requiring the reservoir bag to remain two-thirds full.

Norepinephrine

A vasoconstrictor used to increase blood pressure and cardiac output; adverse effects include tissue necrosis with extravasation and reflex bradycardia.

Dopamine

A medication that dilates renal and coronary arteries at low doses and acts as a vasoconstrictor at high doses; headache is an early symptom of medication excess.

Isoproterenol

An emergency medication that stimulates beta-1 and beta-2 adrenergic receptors; used for heart block, ventricular arrhythmias, and as a bronchodilator.

Sodium nitroprusside

A medication that dilates cardiac veins and arteries to decrease preload and afterload while increasing myocardial perfusion.

Intermittent claudication

Severe cramping pain in the calf muscle during walking caused by ischemia and lactic acid buildup; a general sign of Peripheral Vascular Disease.

Dependent rubor

A reddish-blue discoloration of the extremities occurring when vessels remain permanently dilated after prolonged anoxia or cold exposure.

Trophic changes

Adverse changes in the skin and nails, such as loss of hair on lower extremities, resulting from prolonged tissue ischemia.

Angiography (arteriography)

A diagnostic test where contrast dye is injected into arteries to take x-ray films of the vascular tree to identify obstructions.

Ankle-brachial index (ABI)

A ratio calculated by dividing ankle blood pressure by brachial blood pressure; a normal value is $\ge 0.9$.

Arterial Peripheral Vascular Disease symptoms

Condition characterized by cool, shiny skin, hair loss, ulcers, gangrene, and decreased peripheral pulses.

Thrombophlebitis

Inflammation of the venous wall associated with the formation of a clot.

Varicose Veins

Dilated veins resulting from incompetent valves; predisposing factors include pregnancy, obesity, and heart disease.

Sclerotherapy

A treatment procedure for a small or limited number of varicose veins.

Chronic Venous Insufficiency

A condition resulting from factors like long periods of standing or obesity, characterized by the assessment of venous ulcers.