Diagnosis my broken heart
A 56-year-old male reports chest discomfort described as pressure that started while shoveling snow. The pain subsides with rest and never radiates. Vitals are stable, and there's no associated nausea or diaphoresis.
What is angina?
Blood just entered the right atrium. What structure does it flow into next?
What is the right ventricle?
This term refers to the amount of blood ejected by the left ventricle with each heartbeat.
What is stroke volume?
BP: 140/90 | HR: 98 | RR: 22 | SpO₂: 95% | Skin: warm, pink, dry
Your patient is complaining of chest pressure after walking upstairs. What do these vitals suggest about perfusion?
What is compensated / stable perfusion?
A reversible condition where blood flow to the heart muscle is reduced, causing chest pain but not permanent damage. The answer is not angina.
What is ischemia?
A 62-year-old female is pale and diaphoretic. She reports chest pain that began 30 minutes ago while watching TV. The pain radiates to her left arm and jaw. She feels nauseated and short of breath. Vitals show hypotension and bradycardia.
What is an acute myocardial infarction (AMI)?
From the pulmonary arteries, blood flows into this organ to become oxygenated.
What are the lungs?
This is the volume of blood the heart pumps in one minute, calculated by multiplying heart rate and stroke volume.
What is cardiac output?
BP: 82/50 | HR: 132 | RR: 26 | Skin: pale, cool, clammy
This patient was found after vomiting blood. What do these vitals indicate?
What is hypovolemic shock with poor perfusion?
This term describes permanent death of heart muscle due to prolonged lack of oxygenated blood flow.
What is infarction?
A 48-year-old man complains of sudden-onset sharp chest pain and difficulty breathing. He has a history of a recent leg surgery. He is tachypneic, his SpO₂ is 86% on room air, and breath sounds are clear bilaterally.
What is a pulmonary embolism?
Oxygenated blood leaves the lungs through these vessels and enters the left atrium.
What are the pulmonary veins?
This refers to the pressure or resistance the heart must overcome to eject blood during systole. It's often increased in conditions like hypertension.
What is afterload?
BP: 160/110 | HR: 110 | RR: 28 | SpO₂: 89% on room air | Skin: cyanotic, pedal edema present
The patient has a history of CHF. What do these signs most suggest?
What is pulmonary edema with poor oxygenation?
The percentage of blood the left ventricle pumps out with each contraction. In heart failure, this value may be severely reduced.
What is ejection fraction?
An elderly woman with a history of CHF is sitting upright, gasping for breath. She has crackles in both lungs, a productive cough with pink, frothy sputum, and her blood pressure is elevated. She has peripheral edema and is visibly distressed.
What is pulmonary edema?
After passing through the left ventricle, blood is ejected into this large vessel that distributes oxygenated blood to the body.
What is the aorta?
This is the degree of stretch in the ventricles at the end of diastole, just before contraction. It’s influenced by venous return.
What is preload?
BP: 94/60 | HR: 58 | RR: 12 | SpO₂: 94% | Skin: pink, warm, dry
A patient is bradycardic but shows no signs of distress. What does this vital sign pattern most likely represent?
What is stable bradycardia?
Occlusion of blood flow caused by formation of a clot on rough inner surface of diseased artery
Thrombus
A 70-year-old male presents with cool, clammy skin and altered mental status. He had chest pain earlier today but didn’t call 911. He is hypotensive, tachycardic, and has crackles in the lungs with weak peripheral pulses. Skin is mottled.
What is cardiogenic shock?
Deoxygenated blood returns from the lower portion of the body through this major vein before reaching the right atrium.
What is the inferior vena cava?
This term describes the strength of the heart’s contraction, independent of preload or afterload. It's directly affected by sympathetic stimulation.
What is contractility?
BP: 100/98 | HR: 138 | RR: 30 | SpO₂: 86% | Skin: pale, mottled | AMS present
Which vital sign abnormality is most concerning in this patient and why?
What is narrowing pulse pressure, suggesting decompensated shock and impending cardiovascular collapse?
A life-threatening condition where fluid fills the pericardial sac, compressing the heart and preventing it from filling or pumping effectively.
What is cardiac tamponade?