Caring for Cardiac Emergencies, Slides of Medicine

Download Caring for Cardiac Emergencies and more Slides Medicine in PDF only on Docsity!

Emergency Medical

Responder

Chapter 14

Caring for Cardiac Emergencies

Normal Heart Function

● The heart beats 100,000 times per day. ● 6,000 to 7,500 liters of blood circulates through the body each day. ● The heart muscle receives its blood supply from the coronary arteries. ● Blockage in an artery results in decreased blood flow to the heart.

Cardiac cycle

● Blood flows from the body, into the right atrium, down into the right ventricle and then into the lungs. ● Blood exits the lungs and enters the left atrium then flows into the left ventricle. ● Once the blood exits the left ventricle, it flows out to the body and the cycle begins again.

Cardiac Compromise

Symptoms

● Chest discomfort ● Diaphoresis ● Dyspnea ● Nausea/vomiting ● Anxiety/irritability ● Abnormal pulse ● Abnormal blood pressure ● Feeling of impending doom

Angina Pectoris

● Angina pectoris (angina) is pain in the chest. ● Decreased oxygenated blood supply in the coronary arteries leads to an increased oxygenated blood demand in the heart muscle. ○ Exertion ○ Partial blockage ○ Spasm ● Signs and symptoms of angina are nearly identical to a heart attack. ● No actual damage to the heart muscle ● Patients with angina history typically carry nitro. ● Treatment for angina and myocardial infarction (heart attack) is the same.

Signs and Symptoms

Typical

● Pain, pressure, tightness, or heaviness to the chest/upper abdomen ● Pain or discomfort behind the sternum ● Pain radiating to the shoulders or arms ● Pain to the back, neck, jaw or upper abdomen

Atypical

● "Flu-like" signs and symptoms such as nausea and vomiting ● Indigestion ● Feeling of general weakness

● Large amounts of tissue death or damage over an important electrical pathway may lead to cardiac arrest. ● Patients in cardiac arrest are unresponsive, not breathing, and have no pulse.

Signs & Symptoms

● Shortness of breath ● Chest pain/discomfort ● Rapid pulse rate ● Pedal edema (swollen ankles)

● Jugular Vein Distention (JVD) ● Pale, moist skin ● Altered mental status

Emergency Care for Cardiac Compromise

● Take appropriate Standard Precautions. ● Perform a primary assessment and support the ABCs as necessary. ● If allowed, provide oxygen per local protocols. ○ SpO2 should read between 95–100%. ● Determine chief complaint. ○ SAMPLE OPQRST ● Provide emotional support and reassure the patient. ● Allow the patient to maintain a position of comfort, usually sitting up. ● Obtain vital signs.

Medications

Nitroglycerin

● Tablets, spray, paste ● Prescribed for angina or previous MI ● Dilates blood vessels ● Decreases blood pressure and reduces cardiac workload ● Dizziness and feeling lightheaded are common side effects. ● Assist patient according to protocols.

Aspirin

● Analgesic ● Clot inhibitor ● Prescribed daily for angina ● Beneficial for patients exhibiting signs and symptoms of an MI ● Assist patient according to protocol.

End of Slides