AIR METHODS Critical Care
Comprehensive Resource To Help You Ace 2026-2027
Includes Frequently Tested Questions With ELABORATED
100% Correct COMPLETE SOLUTIONS
Guaranteed Pass First Attempt!!
Current Update!!
1. Coronary artery disease (CAD)
- ANSWER -Progressive narrowing of coronary arteries by atherosclerosis
-CAD results in ischemia when the internal diameter of the coronary vessel is
reduced by 50% or more
2. Patho of CAD
- ANSWER Atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries) is an inflammatory
disease that progresses from endothelial injury to fatty streak, plaque, and
complex lesion. Plaques may rupture, causing the contents to interact with blood,
producing a thrombus. The thrombus can occlude a coronary artery, with resulting
injury and infarction
3. Risk Factors for CAD
- ANSWER Modifiable-smoking, high blood cholesterol, high blood pressure
(BP), physical inactivity, overweight or obesity, and diabetes.
- Not modifiable-gender, heredity, age, race
4. Chief Complaints of CAD
- ANSWER Chest pain, nausea, shortness of breath, palpitations, fatigue, fluid
retention
5. Interventions for CAD
,- ANSWER -Goal: reduce the risk factors for progression of CAD
-Diet: low fat, low-cholesterol diet
-Exercise and weight loss
-Smoke cessation
-Control HTN and Diabetes
6. Medications
- ANSWER -Lipid-lowering medications-"statins"
-Reduce platelet adhesion and aggregation such as ASA, plavix
7. Diagnostic Studies for CAD
- ANSWER -ECG
-Holter monitor (24-48 hours heart monitor to detect abnormal cardiac rhythm)
-Stress test (ECG monitoring while exercising on a treadmill)
-Chest x-ray
-Echocardiography
-PET of CT
-MRI
8. Lab Test for CAD
- ANSWER -Cardiac enzymes (serum cardiac biomarkers)
- Troponin
- Creatine Kinase (CK)
- Creatine Kinase MB (CK-MB)
- Myoglobin
9. Lipid profile
- ANSWER -Cholesterol levels and used for early detection of heart disease
-Total cholesterol should be less than 200mg/dL; LDL (bad cholesterol) -less than
130 mg/dL
-CBC
,-CMP
-Magnesium
10. Angina
- ANSWER A condition of episodes of severe chest pain due to myocardial
ischemia
11. Stable angina
- ANSWER Chest pain relieved at rest
12. Unstable angina
- ANSWER More severe pain, even at rest and requires nitrate therapy
13. Angina Pain
- ANSWER -Squeezing, heavy pressure radiating to jaw, neck or arm
-Location: Substernal
14. Womens presentation of angina
- ANSWER Shortness of breath, pain between shoulders, back pain, jaw pain,
n/v
15. Nitrates
- ANSWER -Direct-acting smooth muscle relaxants that cause vasodilation of
the peripheral or systemic vascular bed, and the vasodilating effect relieves pain
and lowers BP.
-Reduces preload and afterload which decrease myocardial oxygen demand
-Give every 5 minutes to relieve chest pain
16. Meds to give for angina
- ANSWER Vasodilators
-Nitroglycerin
-May lower BP, cause headache
, 17. Beta blockers
- ANSWER -Metoprolol has antidysrhythmic and antihypertensive properties
that decrease myocardial demand and lowers the heart rate
-In MI, decreases infarction size
-Hold is HR less than 60 call MD
18. Analgesics
- ANSWER -Morphine for chest pain
-Monitor for respirator depression; n/v
19. Thrombolytics
- ANSWER -Must use within 6 hours of infarction
-Monitor Mental status
-Monitor for bleeding; PT/ PTT, INR, CBC
20. Antiplatelet
- ANSWER -Aspirin (prevents vasoconstriction; may causes ringing in ears);
Plavix may cause GI upset
-Monitor for bleeding
21. Anticoagulants
- ANSWER -Heparin and lovenox prevents clots from getting larger of from
clots to form
22. Common locations and patterns of pain during angina or myocardial infarction
(MI)
- ANSWER -Substernal radiating to the neck and jaw
-Substernal radiating down the left arm
23. myocardial infarction (MI)
Comprehensive Resource To Help You Ace 2026-2027
Includes Frequently Tested Questions With ELABORATED
100% Correct COMPLETE SOLUTIONS
Guaranteed Pass First Attempt!!
Current Update!!
1. Coronary artery disease (CAD)
- ANSWER -Progressive narrowing of coronary arteries by atherosclerosis
-CAD results in ischemia when the internal diameter of the coronary vessel is
reduced by 50% or more
2. Patho of CAD
- ANSWER Atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries) is an inflammatory
disease that progresses from endothelial injury to fatty streak, plaque, and
complex lesion. Plaques may rupture, causing the contents to interact with blood,
producing a thrombus. The thrombus can occlude a coronary artery, with resulting
injury and infarction
3. Risk Factors for CAD
- ANSWER Modifiable-smoking, high blood cholesterol, high blood pressure
(BP), physical inactivity, overweight or obesity, and diabetes.
- Not modifiable-gender, heredity, age, race
4. Chief Complaints of CAD
- ANSWER Chest pain, nausea, shortness of breath, palpitations, fatigue, fluid
retention
5. Interventions for CAD
,- ANSWER -Goal: reduce the risk factors for progression of CAD
-Diet: low fat, low-cholesterol diet
-Exercise and weight loss
-Smoke cessation
-Control HTN and Diabetes
6. Medications
- ANSWER -Lipid-lowering medications-"statins"
-Reduce platelet adhesion and aggregation such as ASA, plavix
7. Diagnostic Studies for CAD
- ANSWER -ECG
-Holter monitor (24-48 hours heart monitor to detect abnormal cardiac rhythm)
-Stress test (ECG monitoring while exercising on a treadmill)
-Chest x-ray
-Echocardiography
-PET of CT
-MRI
8. Lab Test for CAD
- ANSWER -Cardiac enzymes (serum cardiac biomarkers)
- Troponin
- Creatine Kinase (CK)
- Creatine Kinase MB (CK-MB)
- Myoglobin
9. Lipid profile
- ANSWER -Cholesterol levels and used for early detection of heart disease
-Total cholesterol should be less than 200mg/dL; LDL (bad cholesterol) -less than
130 mg/dL
-CBC
,-CMP
-Magnesium
10. Angina
- ANSWER A condition of episodes of severe chest pain due to myocardial
ischemia
11. Stable angina
- ANSWER Chest pain relieved at rest
12. Unstable angina
- ANSWER More severe pain, even at rest and requires nitrate therapy
13. Angina Pain
- ANSWER -Squeezing, heavy pressure radiating to jaw, neck or arm
-Location: Substernal
14. Womens presentation of angina
- ANSWER Shortness of breath, pain between shoulders, back pain, jaw pain,
n/v
15. Nitrates
- ANSWER -Direct-acting smooth muscle relaxants that cause vasodilation of
the peripheral or systemic vascular bed, and the vasodilating effect relieves pain
and lowers BP.
-Reduces preload and afterload which decrease myocardial oxygen demand
-Give every 5 minutes to relieve chest pain
16. Meds to give for angina
- ANSWER Vasodilators
-Nitroglycerin
-May lower BP, cause headache
, 17. Beta blockers
- ANSWER -Metoprolol has antidysrhythmic and antihypertensive properties
that decrease myocardial demand and lowers the heart rate
-In MI, decreases infarction size
-Hold is HR less than 60 call MD
18. Analgesics
- ANSWER -Morphine for chest pain
-Monitor for respirator depression; n/v
19. Thrombolytics
- ANSWER -Must use within 6 hours of infarction
-Monitor Mental status
-Monitor for bleeding; PT/ PTT, INR, CBC
20. Antiplatelet
- ANSWER -Aspirin (prevents vasoconstriction; may causes ringing in ears);
Plavix may cause GI upset
-Monitor for bleeding
21. Anticoagulants
- ANSWER -Heparin and lovenox prevents clots from getting larger of from
clots to form
22. Common locations and patterns of pain during angina or myocardial infarction
(MI)
- ANSWER -Substernal radiating to the neck and jaw
-Substernal radiating down the left arm
23. myocardial infarction (MI)
