Cardiovascular System Nursing Flashcards

A comprehensive vocabulary review set created from lecture notes covering Chapters 27-30 of Ignatavicius, including cardiac anatomy, hemodynamics, diagnostic evaluation, dysrhythmias, valvular diseases, vascular disorders, and pharmacology.

Cardiac Output

The amount of blood pumped from the left ventricle per minute, calculated using the formula: $\text{Cardiac Output} = \text{Heart Rate} \times \text{Stroke Volume}$

Preload

How much blood is coming INTO the ventricle.

Afterload

How much resistance the ventricle has to pump AGAINST.

Stroke Volume

How much blood leaves the ventricle with each contraction.

Atrioventricular (AV) Valves

Valves located between the atria and ventricles, which include the Tricuspid valve (right atrium to right ventricle) and Mitral valve (left atrium to left ventricle).

Semilunar Valves

Valves located between the ventricles and the arteries leaving the heart, which include the Pulmonic valve (right ventricle to lungs) and Aortic valve (left ventricle to body).

S1 Heart Sound

The sound ("lub") caused by the closure of the AV valves (tricuspid and mitral valves close).

S2 Heart Sound

The sound ("dub") caused by the closure of the semilunar valves (pulmonic and aortic valves close).

Echocardiography

A noninvasive ultrasound test that measures ejection fraction and examines the size, shape, and motion of cardiac structures (types include transthoracic and transesophageal).

Troponin T & I

Cardiac enzymes that indicate myocardial injury; elevated troponin suggests damage to cardiac muscle.

B-type Natriuretic Peptide (BNP)

A laboratory marker used to evaluate heart failure severity.

hs-CRP

High-sensitivity C-reactive protein; a protein produced by the liver as an inflammatory response.

International Normalized Ratio (INR)

Laboratory measurement used to monitor the level of anticoagulation in patients taking warfarin (target range $2\text{--}3$).

SA Node

The heart's normal pacemaker that starts the electrical impulse at an intrinsic rate of $60\text{--}100\,\text{bpm}$.

AV Node

Structure that receives the electrical impulse after it travels through the atria, with an intrinsic rate of $40\text{--}60\,\text{bpm}$.

Depolarization

Electrical stimulation of heart cells corresponding to systole.

Repolarization

Electrical relaxation of heart cells corresponding to diastole.

P Wave

ECG wave representing atrial depolarization, leading to atrial contraction ("push").

QRS Complex

ECG component representing ventricular depolarization, leading to ventricular contraction ("quick ventricular squeeze").

T Wave

ECG wave representing ventricular repolarization, leading to ventricular relaxation ("ventricles take a break").

Atrial Fibrillation (AFib)

A dysrhythmia characterized by a chaotic rhythm, absent P waves, irregular ventricular rhythm, loss of atrial kick, and an increased risk of embolus formation/stroke.

Premature Ventricular Contractions (PVCs)

Early ventricular complex beats followed by a pause, occurring due to increased irritability of ventricular cells.

Ventricular Tachycardia (V-Tach)

A dangerous ventricular dysrhythmia with rate $>100\,\text{bpm}$ and wide QRS ($>0.12\,\text{sec}$) that can deteriorate into V-Fib.

Ventricular Fibrillation (V-Fib)

A life-threatening, pulseless emergency with rate = 0 and chaotic rhythm, requiring immediate CPR, defibrillation, and ACLS.

Pacemaker

A device that electrically stimulates the heart when the natural pacemaker (SA node) cannot maintain an acceptable rhythm; associated with treating symptomatic slow rhythms/bradycardia.

Cardioversion

A controlled electrical shock synchronized with the R wave used to treat tachycardia.

Defibrillation

An unsynchronized electrical shock used during cardiac arrest (V-Fib) to depolarize a critical mass of myocardium simultaneously.

Left-Sided Heart Failure

Heart failure characterized by blood backing up into the lungs causing pulmonary congestion, dyspnea, exertional dyspnea, paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea, and crackles.

Right-Sided Heart Failure

Heart failure characterized by systemic venous congestion, JVD, dependent edema, increased abdominal girth, ascites, hepatomegaly, and hepatojugular reflux.

Mitral Stenosis

Narrowing of the mitral valve making forward blood flow difficult, leading to pulmonary congestion and right-sided HF; rheumatic fever is the most common cause.

Mitral Valve Prolapse (MVP)

Condition where mitral valve leaflets enlarge and prolapse into the left atrium during systole; physical assessment reveals a midsystolic click and late systolic murmur at the apex.

Infective Endocarditis

An infection damaging heart valves and lining; suspected when a valve patient presents with fever and a new murmur.

Pericarditis

Inflammation of the pericardium; key findings include pericardial chest pain, pericardial friction rub, and diffuse ST elevation.

Cardiac Tamponade

An extreme cardiac emergency where fluid accumulates in the pericardium, compressing the heart and decreasing cardiac output; treated with emergency pericardiocentesis.

DASH Diet

Dietary approach to reduce BP emphasizing decreased sodium (up to $2{,}300\,\text{mg/day}$, tighter goal $1{,}500\,\text{mg}$), adding fruits/vegetables, selecting whole grains/lean proteins, and maintaining healthy weight.

Arteriosclerosis

Thickening or hardening of the arterial wall, often associated with aging.

Atherosclerosis

A type of arteriosclerosis where plaque forms inside the arterial walls, which can narrow blood flow or rupture.

Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD)

Systemic atherosclerosis affecting peripheral circulation (especially legs) causing narrowed arteries and tissue ischemia; characterized by claudication, rest pain, and poor arterial perfusion signs.

6 P's of Acute Arterial Occlusion

Clinical manifestations of sudden arterial blockage: Pain, Pallor, Pulselessness, Paresthesia, Paralysis, and Poikilothermia.

Aortic Dissection

A highly lethal emergency caused by a sudden tear in the aortic intima, presenting with sharp, tearing, ripping, or stabbing pain that moves from origin.

Venous Insufficiency

Condition caused by prolonged venous hypertension stretching veins and damaging valves; presents with leg edema, stasis dermatitis, and stasis ulcers.

Apixaban (Eliquis)

Direct Factor Xa inhibitor anticoagulant indicated for stroke prevention, DVT, and PE ($5\,\text{mg}$ PO BID); requires no routine monitoring.

Digoxin

Cardiac glycoside that improves contractility and decreases heart rate; requires monitoring apical pulse for 1 full minute (hold if $<60\,\text{bpm}$) and therapeutic digoxin levels ($0.5\text{--}2.0\,\text{ng/mL}$).

Atenolol

Beta-blocker that blocks beta-1 receptors to lower BP and HR ($25\text{--}100\,\text{mg}$ PO daily); hold if HR $<60\,\text{bpm}$ and do not stop abruptly.

Atorvastatin (Lipitor)

HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor that lowers cholesterol synthesis ($10\text{--}80\,\text{mg}$ PO daily); requires monitoring liver enzymes (AST/ALT) and assessing for muscle pain (rhabdomyolysis).

Enalapril

ACE inhibitor that reduces vasoconstriction ($2.5\text{--}40\,\text{mg}$ PO daily); key side effects include hypotension, hyperkalemia, persistent dry cough, and angioedema.

Warfarin

Anticoagulant that inhibits vitamin K-dependent clotting factors ($2\text{--}10\,\text{mg}$ PO daily); requires monitoring INR ($2\text{--}3$ range) and avoiding vitamin K-rich foods.