Cardiology IV Flashcards

  • Acute coronary syndromes (ACS)

    • Result from a sudden blockage in a coronary artery. This blockage causes unstable angina or heart attack (myocardial infarction) depending on the location and amount of blockage

  • Troponin

    • A blood test used to diagnose heart muscle damage. Used to diagnose NSTEMI

  • ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI)

    • This type of heart attack is diagnosed using an EKG. These are the heart attacks that must either immediately to the cardiac cath lab or must receive thrombolytics

  • Non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI)

    • This type of heart attack is not readily apparent on the EKG. It requires blood tests to diagnose. Some of these patients may go to the cath lab immediately, but not all. They never are treated with thrombolytics.

  • Artificial Heart valves

    • When a heart valve is damage or not functioning correctly, there can be stenosis (limiting blood flow) or regurgitation. There are three options to fix the problem: Mechanical valve replacement, bioprosthetic valve replacement (Pig or Cow), or repair of the valve. Mechanical valves require the person to be on blood thinners for life.

  • Pacemaker

    • A medical device that uses electrical impulses, delivered by electrodes contacting the heart muscles, to regulate the beating of the heart. Primary purpose is to maintain an adequate heart rate.

  • Implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD)

    • A small device that's placed in the chest or abdomen. Doctors use the device to help treat irregular heartbeats called arrhythmias (ah-RITH-me-ahs). Uses electrical pulses or shocks to help control life-threatening arrhythmias, especially those that can cause sudden cardiac arrest

  • Left ventricular assist device (LVAD)

    • A mechanical pump that's used to support heart function and blood flow in people who have weakened hearts. The device takes blood from the left ventricle of the heart and pumps it to the aorta, which delivers blood to the body and vital organs

  • Thrombolytic

    • These are clot-dissolving drugs that are given to a person having a STEMI when PCI is not available within 90 minutes

  • Coronary Angiogram

    • The coronary arteries supply the heart with oxygen-rich blood. Coronary angiography done during a catheterization of the left side of the heart. The catheter is threaded toward the heart, then into the coronary arteries. During insertion, the doctor uses fluoroscopy (a continuous x-ray procedure) to observe the progress of the catheter as it is threaded into place. After the catheter tip is in place, a radiopaque dye, which can be seen on x-rays, is injected through the catheter into the coronary arteries, and the outline of the arteries appears on a video screen and is recorded.

  • Left heart cath

    • A catheterization of the left side of the heart (arterial side), including the coronary arteries

  • Right heart cath

    • A catheterization of the right side of the heart (venous side)

  • Myocardial Infarction (heart attack)

    • A medical emergency in which some of the heart's blood supply is suddenly and severely reduced or cut off, causing the heart muscle (myocardium) to die because it is deprived of its oxygen supply.

  • What is the difference between myocardial ischemia (angina) and myocardial infarction? 

    • Myocardial ischemia is when the heart is not getting enough blood, but there is no death of heart muscle. With myocardial infarction, some of the heart muscle dies.

  • What are the types of ACS (acute coronary syndrome)?

    • Unstable angina, NSTEMI and STEMI

  • How can we treat a STEMI?

    • Can be treated with either PCI or with thrombolytics.

  • What are the advantages and disadvantages of thrombolytics for STEMI?

    • Thrombolytics have the advantage of being readily available and can be given through a peripheral IV by any physician. However, they can cause fatal bleeding in some patients. They are reserved for STEMIs when a cath laboratory cannot be reached within 90 minutes.

  • What are the advantages and disadvantages of PCI for STEMI?

    • PCI has the advantages of much lower risk of bleeding and it fixes the problem, but it requires a cardiologist and a cath laboratory.