Cardiovascular Emergencies

Learning objectives (33)

1. Compare the difference between the fully automated and the semiautomated defibrillator — Knowledge/skills objective (printed page 676); confirm wording in your course copy.
2. Demonstrate how to administer nitroglycerin. (pp 697–699, Skill Drill 17-1) 4. Demonstrate how to attach a cardiac monitor to obtain an ECG. (pp 700–702, Skill Drill 17-2) 5. Demon — Knowledge/skills objective (printed page 676); confirm wording in your course copy.
3. Demonstrate how to perform CPR — Knowledge/skills objective (printed page 676); confirm wording in your course copy.
4. Demonstrate how to provide emergency medical care for a patient with chest pain or discomfort — Knowledge/skills objective (printed page 676); confirm wording in your course copy.
5. Describe the anatomy, physiology, pathophysi- ology, assessment, and management of angina pectoris — Knowledge/skills objective (printed page 675); confirm wording in your course copy.
6. Describe the anatomy, physiology, pathophysi- ology, assessment, and management of throm- boembolism — Knowledge/skills objective (printed page 675); confirm wording in your course copy.
7. Describe the anatomy, physiology, pathophysiology, assessment, and management of aortic aneurysm/dissection — Knowledge/skills objective (printed page 675); confirm wording in your course copy.
8. Describe the anatomy, physiology, pathophysiology, assessment, and management of myocardial infarction — Knowledge/skills objective (printed page 675); confirm wording in your course copy.
9. Describe the anatomy, signs and symptoms, and management of hypertensive emergencies — Knowledge/skills objective (printed page 675); confirm wording in your course copy.
10. Describe the components of patient care following AED shocks — Knowledge/skills objective (printed page 676); confirm wording in your course copy.
11. Describe the different types of AEDs — Knowledge/skills objective (printed page 676); confirm wording in your course copy.
12. Describe the emergency medical care for the patient with cardiac arrest — Knowledge/skills objective (printed page 676); confirm wording in your course copy.
13. Describe the steps to take in the assessment of a patient with chest pain or discomfort — Knowledge/skills objective (printed page 676); confirm wording in your course copy.
14. Discuss the basic anatomy and physiology of the cardiovascular system — Knowledge/skills objective (printed page 675); confirm wording in your course copy.
15. Discuss the importance of coordinating with ALS personnel — Knowledge/skills objective (printed page 676); confirm wording in your course copy.
16. Discuss the importance of practice and continuing education with the AED — Knowledge/skills objective (printed page 676); confirm wording in your course copy.
17. Discuss the pathophysiology of the cardiovascular system — Knowledge/skills objective (printed page 675); confirm wording in your course copy.
18. Discuss the procedures to follow for standard operation of the various types of AEDs — Knowledge/skills objective (printed page 676); confirm wording in your course copy.
19. Discuss the reasons for early defibrillation — Knowledge/skills objective (printed page 676); confirm wording in your course copy.
20. Explain criteria for transport of the patient for advanced life support (ALS) following CPR and defibrillation — Knowledge/skills objective (printed page 676); confirm wording in your course copy.
21. Explain the assessment for patients with cardiovascular problems — Knowledge/skills objective (printed page 675); confirm wording in your course copy.
22. Explain the circumstances that may result in inappropriate shocks from an AED — Knowledge/skills objective (printed page 676); confirm wording in your course copy.
23. Explain the need for a case review of each incident in which an AED is used — Knowledge/skills objective (printed page 676); confirm wording in your course copy.
24. Explain the reason not to touch the patient, such as by delivering CPR, while the AED is analyzing the heart rhythm and delivering shocks — Knowledge/skills objective (printed page 676); confirm wording in your course copy.
25. Explain the relationship between airway management and the patient with cardiac compromise — Knowledge/skills objective (printed page 675); confirm wording in your course copy.
26. Explain the relationship of age to energy delivery — Knowledge/skills objective (printed page 676); confirm wording in your course copy.
27. Explain the role of medical direction in the use of AEDs — Knowledge/skills objective (printed page 676); confirm wording in your course copy.
28. Explain the use of remote adhesive defibrillator pads — Knowledge/skills objective (printed page 676); confirm wording in your course copy.
29. Give the indications and contraindications for the use of aspirin and nitroglycerin — Knowledge/skills objective (printed page 675); confirm wording in your course copy.
30. List quality improvement goals relating to AEDs — Knowledge/skills objective (printed page 676); confirm wording in your course copy.
31. List the indications and contraindications for use of an AED — Knowledge/skills objective (printed page 676); confirm wording in your course copy.
32. Recognize that many patients will have had cardiac surgery and may have implanted pacemakers or defibrillators — Knowledge/skills objective (printed page 676); confirm wording in your course copy.
33. Recognize that not all patients in cardiac arrest require an electric shock — Knowledge/skills objective (printed page 676); confirm wording in your course copy.

Vocabulary (15)

Acute coronary syndrome (ACS)

An umbrella term for conditions caused by sudden reduction of blood flow to the heart muscle, including unstable angina and myocardial infarction.

Myocardial infarction (MI)

Death of heart muscle from prolonged loss of blood supply, usually due to a blocked coronary artery; commonly called a heart attack.

Angina pectoris

Chest pain or pressure caused by reduced blood flow to the heart muscle, often triggered by exertion or emotional stress and relieved by rest.

Cardiac arrest

Sudden, unexpected loss of effective heart function, breathing, and consciousness — usually from an electrical disturbance disrupting the heart's pumping action.

Heart failure

A chronic condition in which the heart cannot pump enough blood to meet the body's needs.

Pulmonary edema

Fluid in the air spaces of the lungs, most often from left-sided heart failure; presents with shortness of breath, crackles, and pink frothy sputum.

Hypertensive emergency

Severely elevated blood pressure with acute target-organ damage such as stroke, heart failure, or kidney injury; requires immediate care.

Automated external defibrillator (AED)

A portable device that analyzes the heart rhythm and, if a shockable rhythm is present, delivers an electrical shock to attempt to restore a normal rhythm.

Ventricular fibrillation (V-fib)

Chaotic, ineffective electrical activity in the ventricles that produces no pulse — a cardiac arrest rhythm responsive to defibrillation.

Ventricular tachycardia (V-tach)

A rapid heart rhythm originating in the ventricles; may be stable with a pulse or pulseless and life-threatening.

Asystole

The complete absence of detectable electrical activity in the heart; commonly called flatline. Not shockable.

Nitroglycerin

A vasodilator medication that widens blood vessels and improves blood flow to the heart, used to relieve angina.

Aspirin (in suspected ACS)

An antiplatelet medication chewed at a dose of 162–324 mg to slow clot growth in patients with suspected heart attack.

Thromboembolism

The obstruction of a blood vessel by a clot (thrombus) that has dislodged from its site of origin and traveled to a new location.

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)

Emergency procedure combining chest compressions and rescue breaths to preserve blood flow during cardiac arrest until advanced care arrives.

Sequence practice (2 puzzles on Quiz Me)

Quick fire sample (15 of 15 on Quiz Me)