NURS 2063 PATHOPHYSIOLOGY FINAL
EXAM STUDY GUIDE RASMUSSEN
UNIVERSITY
Manifestations of asthma
✔✔wheezing, SOB, dyspnea, chest tightness, cough, tachypnea, anxiety
status asthmaticus-life threatening prolonged asthma attack not
responding to usual treatment
can lead to respiratory alkalosis and respiratory failure quickly
asthma treatments
✔✔inhaled and systemic corticosteroids, bronchodilaters, beta agonists,
nebs, leukotriene mediators, mast cell stabilizers, anticholinergics
Asthma treatment plan
RAAS system
✔✔renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system
BP falls, causes pathway
kidneys release Renin --> activating angiotensin I, which is then converted
to angiotensis II (a vasoconstrictor) and stimulating aldosterone secretion.
aldosterone (salt retention, increased blood volume, blood pressure rises)
afterload
✔✔pressure the LV must overcome to move blood into circulation
,preload
✔✔amount of blood returning to the heart that it has to manage, important
determinant of blood pressure
Formula for cardiac output
✔✔CO= HR x SV
thrombus
✔✔blood clot made of platelets, fibrin, erythrocytes and leukocytes
embolus
✔✔clot or portion of clot that breaks loose and travels through circulation,
eventually lodging in smaller vessel
other sources: fat, air, tissue, bacteria, amniotic fluid, tumor cells, foreign
substances
atherosclerosis
✔✔chronic inflammatory disease characterized by thickening and
hardening of the arterial wall
plaques composed of lipids, calcium, and other substances (cellular waste
products and fibrin) develop on the vessel wall and harden over time.
development of these lesions causes platelet aggregation (collection),
thrombosis, vasoconstriction, and vessel obstruction.
ineffective tissue perfusion, ischemia, infarction
can lead to PVD, CAD, renal disease, and stroke
can cause hypertension
,atherosclerosis treatment
✔✔lowering risk factors-healthy lifestyle lowering cholesterol levels,
controlling diabetes, preventing complications
angioplasty to open occluded arteries,
bypass procedures to detour blood around occlusions, laster procedures to
disintegrate plaques and atherectomy to remove the plaques
b-complex vitamins can also help lower homocysteine levels
Risk factors for hypertension
✔✔age, race (more prevalent with African Americans), family history,
overweight/obesisty (amplifies oxygen and nutrient needs), physical
inactivity, tobacco use, high-sodium diet (water retention)
low-potassium/calcium/magnesium diet.
high vitamin D intake
excessive alcohol consumption
stress
Primary hypertension
✔✔no identifiable cause, most common. tends to develop gradually over
the years
secondary hypertension
✔✔can appear suddenly can be caused by renal disease, diabetes
mellitus, adrenal gland tumors, sleep apnea, endocrine disorders (Cushing
syndrome, thyroid dysfunction, hyperparathyroidism)
some congenital heart defts
certain meds (birth control pills, hormone replacement therapy,
antihistamines, decongestantds, glucocorticoid steroids)
, illegal drugs
hypertension treatment
✔✔DASH diet-limit salt, saturated fat, cholesterol
lifestyle changes-exercise, weight control, smoking cession, avoiding
alcohol, stress management
Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation (DIC)
✔✔hypercoagulation uses up all the available clotting factors
once available clotting factors are utilized, patient begins excessively
bleeding.
patient clots, clots, clots, then
bleeds, bleeds, bleeds
DIC etiology/triggers
✔✔3 pathways: endothelial cell injury, massive tissue destruction, severe
inflammation
blood transfusion
cancer, infection in blood, obstertric complications, recent
surgery/anesthesia, sepsis, severe liver disease, severe tissue injury,
cardiac arrest, poisonous snakebite, aortic aneurysm
Left sided vs. right sided heart failure causes
✔✔LEFT: infarction of left ventricle, aortic valve stenosis, hypertension,
and hyperthyroidism
Right: infarction of right ventricle, pulmonary valve stenosis, and
pulmonary disease (cor pulmonale)
EXAM STUDY GUIDE RASMUSSEN
UNIVERSITY
Manifestations of asthma
✔✔wheezing, SOB, dyspnea, chest tightness, cough, tachypnea, anxiety
status asthmaticus-life threatening prolonged asthma attack not
responding to usual treatment
can lead to respiratory alkalosis and respiratory failure quickly
asthma treatments
✔✔inhaled and systemic corticosteroids, bronchodilaters, beta agonists,
nebs, leukotriene mediators, mast cell stabilizers, anticholinergics
Asthma treatment plan
RAAS system
✔✔renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system
BP falls, causes pathway
kidneys release Renin --> activating angiotensin I, which is then converted
to angiotensis II (a vasoconstrictor) and stimulating aldosterone secretion.
aldosterone (salt retention, increased blood volume, blood pressure rises)
afterload
✔✔pressure the LV must overcome to move blood into circulation
,preload
✔✔amount of blood returning to the heart that it has to manage, important
determinant of blood pressure
Formula for cardiac output
✔✔CO= HR x SV
thrombus
✔✔blood clot made of platelets, fibrin, erythrocytes and leukocytes
embolus
✔✔clot or portion of clot that breaks loose and travels through circulation,
eventually lodging in smaller vessel
other sources: fat, air, tissue, bacteria, amniotic fluid, tumor cells, foreign
substances
atherosclerosis
✔✔chronic inflammatory disease characterized by thickening and
hardening of the arterial wall
plaques composed of lipids, calcium, and other substances (cellular waste
products and fibrin) develop on the vessel wall and harden over time.
development of these lesions causes platelet aggregation (collection),
thrombosis, vasoconstriction, and vessel obstruction.
ineffective tissue perfusion, ischemia, infarction
can lead to PVD, CAD, renal disease, and stroke
can cause hypertension
,atherosclerosis treatment
✔✔lowering risk factors-healthy lifestyle lowering cholesterol levels,
controlling diabetes, preventing complications
angioplasty to open occluded arteries,
bypass procedures to detour blood around occlusions, laster procedures to
disintegrate plaques and atherectomy to remove the plaques
b-complex vitamins can also help lower homocysteine levels
Risk factors for hypertension
✔✔age, race (more prevalent with African Americans), family history,
overweight/obesisty (amplifies oxygen and nutrient needs), physical
inactivity, tobacco use, high-sodium diet (water retention)
low-potassium/calcium/magnesium diet.
high vitamin D intake
excessive alcohol consumption
stress
Primary hypertension
✔✔no identifiable cause, most common. tends to develop gradually over
the years
secondary hypertension
✔✔can appear suddenly can be caused by renal disease, diabetes
mellitus, adrenal gland tumors, sleep apnea, endocrine disorders (Cushing
syndrome, thyroid dysfunction, hyperparathyroidism)
some congenital heart defts
certain meds (birth control pills, hormone replacement therapy,
antihistamines, decongestantds, glucocorticoid steroids)
, illegal drugs
hypertension treatment
✔✔DASH diet-limit salt, saturated fat, cholesterol
lifestyle changes-exercise, weight control, smoking cession, avoiding
alcohol, stress management
Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation (DIC)
✔✔hypercoagulation uses up all the available clotting factors
once available clotting factors are utilized, patient begins excessively
bleeding.
patient clots, clots, clots, then
bleeds, bleeds, bleeds
DIC etiology/triggers
✔✔3 pathways: endothelial cell injury, massive tissue destruction, severe
inflammation
blood transfusion
cancer, infection in blood, obstertric complications, recent
surgery/anesthesia, sepsis, severe liver disease, severe tissue injury,
cardiac arrest, poisonous snakebite, aortic aneurysm
Left sided vs. right sided heart failure causes
✔✔LEFT: infarction of left ventricle, aortic valve stenosis, hypertension,
and hyperthyroidism
Right: infarction of right ventricle, pulmonary valve stenosis, and
pulmonary disease (cor pulmonale)
