Cardiology and EKGs - Archer NCLEX crash course/ webinar

CARDIOLOGY & EKGS
ARCHER NCLEX REVIEW
MUST KNOW SYSTEM FOR NCLEX SUCCESS!
ARCHER SLIDES ARE TO BE USED WITH RAPID FIRE/ CRASH COURSE TO
UNDERSTAND FULL CONCEPTS & APPLY IN NCLEX QUESTION SCENARIOS.
RAPID PREP WILL COVER THESE SLIDES AND EXPLAIN HIGHYIELD
CONCEPTS IN DETAIL
2 HOURS LIVE WEBINAR ON NOVEMBER 3RD, 2020
REGISTER AT WWW.ARCHERREVIEW.COM

HEMODYNAMICS
● Preload
○ Amount of blood returning to right side of the heart
● Afterload
○ Pressure against which the left ventricle must pump to eject blood
● Compliance
○ How easily the heart muscle expands when filled with blood
● Contractility
○ Strength of contraction of the heart muscle
● Stroke volume
○ Volume of blood pumped out of the ventricles with each contraction
● Cardiac output
○ The amount of blood the heart pumps through the circulatory system in a minute

CARDIAC OUTPUT
WHY is cardiac output SO important?!
● Tissue perfusion!
● End organ function
● Delivery of oxygen and nutrients to each and every cell in the body!
● Poor cardiac output??
○ Decreased LOC (not enough blood flow to the BRAIN)
○ Chest pain, weak peripheral pulses (not enough blood flow to the HEART)
○ SOB, crackles, rales (not enough blood flow to the LUNGS)
○ Cool, clammy, mottled extremities (not enough blood flow to the SKIN)
○ Decreased UOP (not enough blood flow to the KIDNEYS)
CO = SV X HR

CAUSES OF
DECREASED CO
● Increased blood volume...sometimes
● Tachycardia...sometimes
● Medications
○ ACE Inhibitors
○ ARBS
○ Nitrates
● Inotropes
CAUSES OF
INCREASED CO
● Bradycardia
● Arrhythmias
○ Pulseless v-tach
○ V-fib
○ Asystole
○ SVT
● Hypotension
● MI
● Cardiac muscle disease

EKG
ARCHER REVIEW CRASH COURSE

Normal Sinus Rhythm
P-wave: normal
PR Interval: 0.12-0.20
QRS: <0.12
Rate: 60-100
Regularity: Regular

Sinus Bradycardia
P-wave: Normal
QRS: <0.12
Rate: <60
Regularity: Regular
Causes:
-Sleep
-Inactivity
-Very athletic
-Drugs
-MI

Sinus Tachycardia
P-wave: Normal
QRS: <0.12
Rate: >100
Regularity: Regular
Causes:
-Caffeine
-Exercise
-Fever
-Anxiety
-Drugs
-Pain
-Hypotension
-Volume depletion

Atrial Flutter
P-wave: “saw-tooth”
PR Interval: none
QRS: <0.12
Rate: 250-400
Regularity: Regular or
Irregular
Causes:
-Heart disease
-MI
-CHF
-Pericarditis

Atrial Fibrillation
P-wave: ‘wavy’
PR Interval: none
QRS: <0.12
Rate: >400
Regularity: irregular
Causes:
-Heart Disease
-Pulmonary Disease
-Stress
-Alcohol
-Caffeine

Supraventricular Tachycardia (SVT)
P-wave: hidden
PR Interval:
immeasurable
QRS: <0.12
Rate: 150-250
Regularity: Regular
Causes:
-Caffeine
-CHF
-Fatigue
-Hypoxia
-Altered pacemaker in heart

Ventricular Tachycardia (V-Tach)
P-wave: none
PR Interval: none
QRS: >0.11 - ‘wide
complex & bizarre’
Rate: 150-250
Regularity: Regular
Causes:
-MI
-Ischemia
-Digoxin toxicity
-Hypoxia
-Acidosis
-Hypokalemia
-Hypotension

Ventricular Fibrillation (V-fib)
P-wave: none
PR Interval: none
QRS: none
Rate: none
Regularity: Irregular
Causes:
-MI
-Ischemia
-Hypoxia
-Acidosis
-Hypokalemia
-Hypotension
-Most common cause of sudden
death

Asystole
P-wave: possible to
have some random p-
waves
PR Interval: none
QRS: none
Rate: none
Regularity: n/a
Causes:
-Follows VT/VF in cardiac
arrest
-Acidosis
-Hypoxia
-Hypokalemia
-Hypothermia
-Overdose

WHAT IS CORONARY ARTERY DISEASE?
● The most common type of cardiovascular disease.
● Includes two types
○ Chronic stable angina
○ Acute coronary syndrome (aka MI)

CHRONIC STABLE ANGINA
● Chronic disease caused by narrowing of coronary
arteries and plaque build up.
● There are periods of decreased blood flow to the
heart muscle
● Decreased blood flow leads to decreased oxygen,
and ischemia.
● Ischemia causes chest pain

TREATMENT
● Nitroglycerin
○ Venous and arterial dilation → decreased afterload → increased CO
○ Given sublingual
○ Administer 1 pill q5 minutes for 3 doses
○ Do not swallow
○ Keep in a dark bottle in dry, cool place
○ Expected side effect = headache

EDUCATION
● DECREASE THE WORKLOAD OF THE HEART!
○ Rest
○ Do not overeat
○ No caffeine
○ Avoid temperature extremes
○ No smoking
○ Promote weight loss
○ Reduce stress

WHAT IS A MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION
Myocardial infarction = acute coronary syndrome = unstable angina
● There is decreased blood flow to the heart, leading to decreased oxygen, and not only ischemia, but also
necrosis.
● Goal is to act quickly and limit the damage.

ASSESSMENT
● Chest pain
○ Crushing
○ Radiating to left arm or jaw
○ Between shoulder blades
● Epigastric discomfort/indigestion
● Fatigue
● SOB
● Vomiting

LABS
● CPK-MB
○ Cardiac specific isoenzyme
○ Increases with damage to cardiac cells
● Troponin
○ Cardiac biomarker
○ Increases with myocardial damage
● Myoglobin
○ Protein in muscle cells
○ Increases with damage to ANY muscle cell
○ Negative results can help rule out an MI, but positive results are not specific.

TREATMENT
● Cath lab within 90 minutes for PCI
○ Especially important if it’s a STEMI!
● Oxygen
● Aspirin
● Nitroglycerin
● Morphine

EDUCATION
● Quit smoking
● Increase activity gradually
● Diet
○ Low fat
○ Low salt
○ Low cholesterol
● Exercise
○ Avoid isometric exercises
○ Walking is a good choice

WHAT IS HEART FAILURE?
The inability of the heart muscle to pump enough blood to meet the body's needs for blood and oxygen.
● Often results as a complication of other diseases
● #1 cause of HF is hypertension
● Other causes:
○ Cardiomyopathy
○ Endocarditis
○ MI
● Two types: Left and Right

LEFT-SIDED HEART FAILURE
Left side of the heart cannot move blood forward to the body.
Blood is backing up in the LUNGS.
Assessment:
● Pulmonary congestion
● Wet lung sounds
● Dyspnea
● Cough
● Blood tinged sputum
● S3
● Orthopnea

RIGHT HEART FAILURE
Right side of the heart cannot move blood forward to the lungs.
Blood is backing up in the BODY.
Assessment:
● Jugular venous distention
● Dependent edema
● Hepatomegaly
● Splenomegaly
● Ascites
● Weight gain
● Fatigue
● Anorexia

TREATMENT
● DECREASE THE WORKLOAD OF THE HEART!
● Primary strategy is to decrease afterload:
○ ACE Inhibitors
■ Arterial dilation→ decreased afterload → Increased stroke volume
○ ARBS
■ Decrease BP → decreased afterload → Increased CO
● Increase contractility
○ Digoxin
● Diuresis
○ Pt needs help reducing excess fluid

EDUCATION
● Take diuretic medications in the AM
● Monitor electrolyte levels while on diuretics
● Low sodium diet
○ This helps decrease fluid
● Elevate the HOB
○ Will help with diuresis
● Daily weight
○ Same time
○ Same scale
○ Same clothes
● Report any increase of 2-3 lbs in one day

WHAT IS HYPERTENSION?
High blood pressure!
Normal <120/80
Elevated 120-129/80
Hypertension >130/>80
Hypertensive Crisis >180/>120

CAUSES & RISK FACTORS
● Family history
● African american race
● Increased age
● Obesity
● HLD
● CAD
● Stress
● Smoking
● High salt intake
● Caffeine

ASSESSMENT
● Often asymptomatic until very severe
● Vision changes
● Headaches
● Dizziness
● Nosebleeds
● SOB
● Angina

COMPLICATIONS
● Stroke
● MI
● Renal Failure
● Heart Failure
● Vision loss

TREATMENT & EDUCATION
● Medications
○ ACE inhibitors
○ Beta Blockers
○ CCB
○ Diuretics
● Diet
○ DASH
○ Low salt
○ Avoid caffeine and alcohol
○ Weight loss
○ Smoking cessation
● Lifestyle
○ Less sitting more walking

WHAT IS SHOCK??
● A state where the vital organs are not receiving adequate oxygenation.
● This lack of oxygenation causes organ damage and forces the cells to use anaerobic metabolism to create
energy….producing lactate.
● Cardiovascular system is composed of:
○ The blood
○ The vasculature
○ The heart
● A disruption in any of these three components can cause a lack of oxygen delivery to the organs, causing shock.
● Which component is ‘broken’ determines the type of shock.

TYPES OF SHOCK
Hypovolemic
Cardiogenic
Distributive

PATHOPHYSIOLOGY
● Low blood flow
● There is a loss of the circulating volume
● Not enough blood to enter the heart (preload), which
decreases cardiac output.
● The body will vasoconstrict to compensate.

CAUSES
● Hemorrhage
● Traumatic injury
● Dehydration
○ Vomiting
○ Diarrhea
● Burns

ASSESSMENT
● Compensation
○ Weak
○ Pale
○ Tachycardic
○ Anxious
● Failing
○ Hypotension
○ Weak pulses
○ Tachycardic
○ Decreased LOC
○ Pale
○ Cool
○ Clammy
○ Decreased UOP

TREATMENT
● Fix the cause
○ Stop vomiting/diarrhea
○ Stop bleeding
■ Repair in OR
● Replace volume
○ Isotonic IVF
■ NS
■ LR
○ Blood products
● Support perfusion
○ Vasopressors

PATHOPHYSIOLOGY
● The heart fails to pump sufficient blood out to the organs
● “Pump failure”
● Something is stopping the heart itself from getting blood out to the body
● Without sufficient blood delivered to the body, there is inadequate oxygenation
● Lack of oxygen impairs normal cellular metabolism

CAUSES
● MI
● Cardiac tamponade
● Pulmonary embolism

ASSESSMENT
● Decreased perfusion
○ Hypotension
○ Weak pulses
○ Cool, pale, clammy
○ Decreased UOP
○ Decreased LOC
● Volume overload
○ JVD
○ Crackles
○ SOB
○ Muffled heart sounds
○ S3

TREATMENT
● TREAT THE CAUSE
○ MI
■ PCI
■ CABG
○ PE
■ Thrombolytics
○ Tamponade
■ Pericardiocentesis
● Improve contractility
○ Dopamine
○ Dobutamine
● Decrease afterload
○ Diuretics
○ Dobutamine
● IABP
● LVAD
● Transplant

PATHOPHYSIOLOGY
● Something causes an immune or autonomic response in the body
● This alters vascular tone
● The result is massive peripheral vasodilation
● With so much vasodilation, the blood pressure is inadequate to provide blood flow to the vital organs.
● Without sufficient blood delivered to the body, there is inadequate oxygenation
● Lack of oxygen impairs normal cellular metabolism

CAUSES
● Anaphylactic
○ Allergic reaction
● Neurogenic
○ SCI
● Septic
○ Systemic infection
○ Causes release of inflammatory cytokines

ASSESSMENT
● Decreased oxygen
● Hypotension
● Tachycardia
● Tachypnea
● Warm, flushed skin
● Decreased LOC
Specific:
● Anaphylactic
○ Hives
○ Rash
○ Swelling
○ Wheezing
● Neurogenic
○ SCI
○ Priapism
● Septic
○ Hyperthermic
○ Infection

TREATMENT
● Anaphylactic
○ Epinephrine
○ Corticosteroids
○ Bronchodilators
● Neurogenic
○ Cooling
○ Supportive care
● Septic
○ IV antibiotics
○ IVF

Cardiology and EKGs - Archer NCLEX crash course/ webinar

In this document