Cardiovascular & Respiratory System

69 important questions on Cardiovascular & Respiratory System

What are symptoms of left-sided heart failure?

  • Backflow to the lungs
  • Difficulty of breathing
  • Orthopnea (difficulty breathing lying flat)
  • Paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea
  • Bibasilar crackles
  • Non-productive cough
  • Pink frothy sputum
  • Decreased cardiac output

What causes inflammatory heart disease?

  • Infectious agents: viruses, bacteria, fungi, parasites
  • Toxic materials: environment, water, food, air, gases, smoke, pollution

What are the layers affected in infectious cardiac disorders?

  • Endocardium: Inner layer
  • Myocardium: Muscle layer
  • Pericardium: Outermost layer
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How do you check for cardiac responsiveness?

  • Check for responsiveness
  • Ask for help
  • Activate Emergency Medical Services (EMS)
  • Get Automated External Defibrillator (AED)

How is stable angina managed?

- Manage with: Rest, Oxygen

What are the signs of endocarditis?

  • Heart valves become incompetent
  • Vegetation, infective emboli
  • Murmurs
  • Skin: petechiae, nodules

What does the ECG rhythm indicate?

  • Ventricular Tachycardia
  • Rapid impulse > 100 bpm
  • P wave is absent
  • Poor cardiac output

What is the CPR sequence?

  • Compression
  • Airway
  • Breathing (C-A-B)

What are the symptoms of myocarditis?

  • Decrease in muscle contraction
  • Chest pain with fatigue
  • Cardiac dysrhythmia

What is shown in the ECG for supraventricular tachycardia?

  • P wave: Abnormal
  • QRS: Normal
  • PR Interval: Not measurable

How is stable Ventricular Tachycardia managed?

  • Administer Amiodarone
  • Administer Lidocaine

What is the purpose of administering Epinephrine in cardiac arrest?

  • To create impulse
  • Administer to revive the heart

What are the stages of myocardial infarction (MI)?

  1. Ischemia: decreased oxygen, pain
  2. Injury: damage
  3. Infarct: necrosis

What are the symptoms of pericarditis?

  • Inflammation of pericardium
  • Pain when inhaling or lying supine
  • Pleural friction rub

What is the typical impulse rate at the atria in atrial flutter?

- Increase impulse at the atria: 250-400 bpm

What are the management strategies for supraventricular tachycardia?

  • Vagal Maneuver
  • Adenosine
  • Beta-blockers
  • Calcium channel blockers
  • Cardioversion

What is the management for unstable Ventricular Tachycardia?

  • Use Cardioversion
  • Deliver high-energy shock

What are the CPR guidelines for infants?

- At least 1/2 inch or 1/5 anteroposterior chest

What are the diagnostics for myocardial infarction (MI)?

  • Troponin: 3 hours after attack
  • CK-MB: 18 hours after attack
  • Myoglobin: 24 hours

What medications manage infectious cardiac disorders?

  • Penicillin
  • Corticosteroids
  • Vancomycin

What are the two modes of a pacemaker?

  • Fixed (Asynchronous): Impulse at constant rate
  • Demand (Synchronous): Impulse when heart rate decreases

What are common characteristics of the P wave and QRS in atrial flutter?

  • P wave: Abnormal
  • QRS: Normal

What are the risk factors for supraventricular tachycardia?

  • Exercise
  • Caffeine
  • Fear
  • Common in pediatrics

What should be done for pulseless and unconscious patients with Ventricular Tachycardia?

  • Start defibrillation at 200 joules
  • Then 300 joules
  • Finally, 360 joules

What is the compression rate for untrained personnel during CPR?

  • 100-120 compressions/min
  • Push hard and fast

How is myocardial infarction (MI) managed?

  • M: Morphine
  • O: Oxygen
  • N: Nitroglycerin
  • A: Aspirin

What is cardiac tamponade?

  • Blood/fluid fills space between sac and heart muscle
  • Increase in pericardial fluid leads to effusion

What steps are involved in naming an ECG?

  1. Check 5 parameters.
  2. Check origin of firing.
  3. Check rate and rhythm.

What should be monitored daily for a pacemaker diary?

  • Count heart rate daily
  • List down activities performed

What are complications associated with atrial flutter?

  • Complication: Stroke
  • Blood stasis: Clot

How is a vagal maneuver used in supraventricular tachycardia?

  • Carotid sinus massage
  • Slows heart rate
  • Stimulates vagus nerve

What happens in the first 3-5 mins of decreased cardiac output?

  • Fatal decrease in cardiac output
  • Reduced brain perfusion
  • Blood not reaching the brain

What drugs are Sodium Channel Blockers in Group I-A?

  • Disopyramide (Norpace)
  • Procainamide (Pronestyl)
  • Quinidine (Quinaglute)

What are the complications of myocardial infarction (MI)?

  1. Cardiac dysrhythmia
  2. Cardiogenic shock (B.C.O.)
  3. Heart failure

What are signs and symptoms of cardiac tamponade?

  • Muffled heart sound
  • Jugular vein distention
  • Pulsus paradoxus: systolic BP decrease 10mmHg on inhalation

What is the role of the SA Node in the heart?

  • Initiates electrical impulses
  • Known as the "physiologic pacemaker"
  • Controls heart rate: 60-100 bpm

What does a normal sinus rhythm look like in terms of P wave, QRS, PR Interval, Rate, and Rhythm?

  • P wave: Normal
  • QRS: Normal
  • PR Interval: Normal
  • Rate: 60-100 bpm
  • Rhythm: Regular

Name two malfunctions of a pacemaker.

  • Dizziness and altered LOC
  • Dislodgement: Displacement

What is the role of Sodium Channel Blockers in atrial flutter management?

  • Management: Sodium Channel Blockers
  • Purpose: Stops the heart temporarily to restore rhythm

What are the ventricular rhythm abnormalities?

  • Extra abnormal heartbeats
  • Occur in ventricle chambers

How is management handled for cardiac output decrease and V-fib?

  • Defibrillation
  • Perform CPR
  • Use Epinephrine

Which drugs are classified as Group II Beta-adrenergic blockers?

  • Carvedilol
  • Metoprolol
  • Propranolol

How is cardiac tamponade managed?

  • Pericardiocentesis
  • Aspiration of fluid in pericardial space
  • Position: 45-60 degree angle

What does the AV Node do in heart conduction?

  • Acts as a "secondary pacemaker"
  • Regulates impulses: 40-60 bpm
  • Connects atria to ventricles

Describe the characteristics of sinus bradycardia.

  • P wave: Normal
  • QRS: Normal
  • PR Interval: Normal
  • Rate:

What symptoms indicate a pacemaker dislodgement?

  • Hiccups
  • Spasms of the diaphragm

What are the mentioned risk factors for atrial rhythms?

- Risk Factors:
  1. Infection
  2. Stress
  3. Electrolyte imbalance
  4. Noxious stimuli

How many PVCs indicate possible ventricular tachycardia?

- More than six PVCs in one minute

Which medications prevent recurrence of V-fib?

- Amiodarone

What are the uses of Amiodarone (Cordarone)?

  • Blue discoloration of skin
  • Use sunscreen
  • Prevents the recurrence of v-fib

What is done post-procedure for cardiac tamponade?

  • Monitor vital signs every 15 mins for 1 hour
  • Assess heart and lung sounds
  • Record fluid amount
  • ECG for heart rhythm
  • Semi-Fowler’s position

Describe the function of the Bundle of His.

  • Transmits impulses from AV Node
  • Sends signals to ventricle muscles
  • Facilitates synchronized contractions

What can cause sinus bradycardia?

  • Anti-arrhythmic drugs
  • Sleep
  • Hypothyroidism
  • Vagal stimulation (e.g. training, exertion)
  • Common in elderly & athletes

How long is the battery life for a pacemaker?

  • Lithium: 10 years
  • Nuclear: 20 years

What is the purpose of cardioversion in atrial flutter?

- Purpose: Temporarily stops heart to restore heart rhythm

What are the management strategies for ventricular arrhythmias?

  • Beta-blockers
  • Calcium channel blockers
  • Sodium channel blocker (Lidocaine)
  • Notify the doctor

What should be avoided with Group IV Calcium Channel Blockers?

- Avoid grapefruit juice

What is represented by the P Wave in an ECG?

  • Indicates atrial depolarization
  • Reflects electrical activity in atria

What management options are available for sinus bradycardia?

  1. Alter medication (beta-blockers, calcium channel blockers).
  2. Drugs: Atropine, Dopamine, Epinephrine.
  3. Transcutaneous pacing.
  4. Artificial pacemaker.

What to avoid with a pacemaker according to guidelines?

  • Avoid high magnetic fields (MRI)
  • Avoid high voltage equipment
  • Avoid contact sports

What medications are used as anticoagulants in atrial flutter management?

- Anticoagulants:
  1. Tissue Plasminogen Activator (TPA)
  2. Aspirin
  3. Warfarin

What are the risk factors for ventricular arrhythmias?

  • Irritated/stressed ventricles
  • Medications
  • Cocaine
  • Electrolyte imbalance
  • Ischemia

What does the QRS Complex indicate on an ECG?

  • Represents ventricular depolarization
  • Shows electrical activity in ventricles

What are some causes of sinus tachycardia?

  • Dehydration
  • Anemia
  • Shock
  • Hyperthyroidism

Explain the importance of the PR Interval in an ECG.

  • Measures time from atrial to ventricular activation
  • Indicates AV conduction time

What beta-blockers are used for managing sinus tachycardia?

- Beta-blockers ending in -LOL

How is heart rate evaluated using an ECG?

  • Examine the R-R interval
  • Calculate beats per minute (bpm)

What calcium channel blockers can be used?

  • Diltiazem
  • Verapamil
  • Nifedipine
  • Amlodipine

What is assessed for heart rhythm on an ECG?

  • Check consistency of R-R intervals
  • Determine if rhythm is regular or irregular

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