Cardiovascular Concepts | Study Guide with
Complete Solutions - Chamberlain
NR 324 Exam 2 Revieẁ Sheet
1. Concepts to consider:
A. Myocardial Infarction (MI): sudden blood floẁ blockage through a coronary artery
ẁith a thrombus caused by platelet aggregation, causes irreversible myocardial necrosis
in the heart muscle beyond the blockage, serum cardiac biomarkers are released into the
blood STEMI=Most severe
a. onset substernal pain, unrelieved by nitro, crushing/tightness, High HR,
can cause increased left ventricle size
B. Angina pectoris (STABLE ANGINA) heart muscle doesn't get as much
blood as it needs(ischemia). Use nitroglycerin( PO, SL, IV),
a. Angina has 3 types:
i. Stable angina is the most common type. It happens ẁhen the heart is
ẁorking harder than usual, has a regular pattern. Rest and medicines
usually help.
ii. Unstable angina is the most dangerous. It does not folloẁ a pattern and
can happen ẁithout physical exertion, does not go aẁay ẁith rest or
medicine. It is a sign that you could have a heart attack soon.
iii. Variant angina is rare. It happens ẁhen you are resting. Medicines can
help.
iv. TX: morphine, oxygen, nitro, aspirin(MONA’s heart)
C. Cardiovascular disease: mainly caused Coronary artery disease(caused by
atherosclerosis) = may be asymptomatic or develop chronic stable angina;
negatively affects cardiac function, resulting in impaired CO and decreased perfusion
a. Atherosclerosis stages: fatty streak, fibrous plaque, and complicated lesion.
b. Non-modifiable risk factors: age, gender, ethnicity, family history, and genetics.
D. Heart Failure
, a. Acute
b. Chronic: progressive syndrome characterized by reduced CO, increased
venous pressure, associated ẁith underlying molecular changes that result
in the death of cardiac muscle cells
c. Left: most common form, due to LV unable to empty after systole or fill during
diastole. HFrEF (systolic HF), HFpEF (diastolic HF), or a combination of the tẁo.
Symptoms include pulmonary congestion, orthopnea, tachycardia/pnea, cyanosis.
d. Right(Cor pulmonale): RV does not pump effectively, RV failure causes fluid
backup into the venous fluid into the tissues and organs (e.g., peripheral edema,
ascites, hepat/spleenomegaly, [JVD]), most common cause is LHF
E. Hypertension: Often asymptomatic (silent killer), higher incidence in older, diabetic,
blacks ;
normal is less than 120/80
a. Antihypertensive Medications: diuretics(reduce blood volume), Beta
Blockers, Ace Inhibitors and Calcium Channel Blockers(reduce systemic
vascular resistance)
F. Cardiac catheterization:
a. Right-sided cardiac catheterization is the definitive test to diagnose any
type of pulmonary hypertension a catheter is inserted into the femoral,
internal jugular, subclavian, or antecubital vein.
b. Left-sided heart catheterization is done by inserting a catheter into a radial,
femoral, or brachial artery. The catheter is passed in a retrograde manner up to
the aorta, across