Cardiac Emergencies (EMT) Quizlet Import

Congestive Heart Failure (CHF)

The failure of the heart to pump efficiently, leading to excessive blood or fluids in the lungs, the body, or both

Dyspnea

Shortness of breath; labored or difficulty breathing

Coronary Artery Disease

Diseases that affect the arteries of the heart

Angina Pectoris

Pain in the chest, which occurs when

- the blood supply to the heart is reduced

- a portion of the heart muscles is not receiving enough oxygen

Acute Myocardial Infarction

AKA: Heart attack

- A condition in which a portion of the myocardium dies as a result of oxygen starvation

The Cardiovascular System is composed of...

heart and blood vessels

Dysrhythmia

A disturbance in the heart rate and rhythm

Aneurysm

The dilation, or ballooning, of a weakened section of the wall of an artery

Acute coronary syndrome (ACS)

Any condition brought on by a sudden reduction or blockage of blood flow to the heart.

Ischemia

an inadequate blood supply to an organ or part of the body, especially the heart muscles.

Bradycardia

When the heart rate is slow, usually below 60 beats per minute

Edema

Swelling resulting from a build-up of fluid in the tissues

Nitroglycerin

A medication that diatlates the blood vessels

Embolism

Blockage of a vessel by a clot or foreign material brought to sight by the blood current

Occlusion

Blockage, as of an artery by fatty deposits

Pulse-less Electrical Activity (PEA)

A condition in which the heart has an electrical rhythm but is not generating a pulse

Sudden Death

Cardiac Arrest that occurs within 2 hours of the onset of symptoms.

-Patient may have no prior symptoms

Thrombus

A stationary blood clot along the wall of the blood vessel

Ventricular Fibrillation (VF)

The most serious cardiac rhythm disturbance

Ventricular tachycardia (V-Tach)

Rapid heartbeat

-if rapid enough it will not allow the hearts chambers to fill with enough blood between beats to produce blood flow sufficient enough to meet the body's needs

Asystole

also known as flatline, is a state of no electrical activity from the heart and therefore no blood flow. It results in cardiac arrest.

Crushing chest pain may also be described as...

dull, squeezing, heavy

Patients with a heart problems may complain of..

Difficulty breathing, mild chest discomfort, and pain in the center of the chest

Signs and symptoms of Acute Coronary Syndrome

1. Difficulty breathing

2. Sudden onset of sweating with nausea and vomiting

3. Pain in the chest or upper abdomen

Management of a patient with ACS

1. Place the patient in position of comfort (Fowler)

2. Administering high O2 via Non-reb mask

3. Assist the patient of nitro if medical direction authorizes

Nitroglycerin can be administered under the conditions that..

1. Authorization by medical direction

2. Patients physician prescribed the medication

3. Blood pressure is greater then 100 systolic

Maximum number of doses of Nitro

3 doses

Damage to the _______ Ventricle causes the backup of blood into the lungs.

Left

The 5 elements in the chain of survival

• Immediate recognition of cardiac arrest and activation of the emergency response system

• Early CPR

• Rapid defibrillation

• Effective advanced life support

• Integrated post-cardiac arrest care

Swollen ankles and coughing up pink sputum may cause you to suspect that the patient is experiencing...

Right heart failure

Who is a typical cardiac arrest victim?

A male in his 60's

Shockable rhythms

1. V-Fib

2. Pulseless ventricular tachycardia

3. Ventricular tachycardia

Non-shockable rhythms

1. Aystole

2. PEA

After 3 shocks of the AED the EMT should

begin to transport the patient with high quality CPR

If a patient with a pacemaker needs to be deliberated, the EMT should....

Place the pad several inches away from the pacemaker battery.

Left side heart failure

causes fluid backup in the lungs

typically presents with pulmonary edema and respiratory distress

Right side heart failure

causes fluid backup within the body

presents with pedal edema and JVD

Pulmonary embolism / signs and symptoms

caused by a blockage in the pulmonary artery

chest pain, pedal edema in one leg

Risk factors include long sedentary periods