Emergency Care and Transportation of the Sick and Injured, Ch. 17: Cardiovascular Emergencies

These flashcards cover key vocabulary and concepts related to cardiovascular emergencies, including definitions of medical terms, conditions, and procedures relevant to emergency medical care.

CPR

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation; a lifesaving technique used in emergencies when someone's breathing or heartbeat has stopped.

AED

Automated External Defibrillator; a device that delivers an electric shock to the heart to restore a normal rhythm.

Angina Pectoris

Chest pain or discomfort due to insufficient blood flow to the heart muscle, often triggered by stress or exertion.

AMI

Acute Myocardial Infarction; commonly known as a heart attack, occurs when blood flow to a part of the heart is blocked.

Congestive Heart Failure (CHF)

A condition in which the heart cannot pump adequately, leading to fluid buildup in the lungs and other body parts.

Dysrhythmia

An abnormal heart rhythm that can include conditions like tachycardia and bradycardia.

Defibrillation

The process of delivering a therapeutic dose of electrical energy to the heart to restore a normal rhythm.

Hypertensive Emergency

Situations in which blood pressure rises significantly (systolic BP > 180 mm Hg), posing a risk for stroke or other complications.

Ventricular Fibrillation

A life-threatening heart rhythm that results in inadequate blood flow to the body due to disorganized electrical activity in the heart.

Coronary Artery Bypass Graft (CABG)

A surgical procedure to improve blood flow to the heart by using a blood vessel from another part of the body to bypass a blocked coronary artery.

Atherosclerosis

A condition characterized by the buildup of fatty deposits in the walls of the arteries, leading to reduced blood flow.

Cardiac Output

The amount of blood the heart pumps through the circulatory system in one minute, measured in liters per minute.

Perfusion

The process of delivering oxygenated blood to the tissues, essential for cellular function.

Tachycardia

An abnormally high heart rate, typically defined as exceeding 100 beats per minute.

Bradycardia

An abnormally low heart rate, usually defined as falling below 60 beats per minute.

Systolic Blood Pressure

The pressure in the arteries when the heart beats and fills them with blood.

Diastolic Blood Pressure

The pressure in the arteries when the heart is at rest between beats.

Spontaneous Circulation

The return of effective heart function and blood circulation following a cardiac arrest.