Cardiovascular and Emergency Management Quiz

Cardiovascular System and Emergency Management

• Iliac arteries subdivide into femoral arteries to supply blood to the lower limbs.

• Percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) involves dilating the coronary artery with a balloon to restore blood flow to the heart muscle.

• Before administering nitroglycerin, EMTs must obtain authorization from medical control.

• In cases of cardiac arrest with an automatic implanted cardiac defibrillator (AICD) present, the AED’s shock recommendation should be followed, followed by immediate CPR resumption.

• In an emergency involving altered mental status and a history of chest pain, initiate ventilatory assistance if the patient displays signs of respiratory distress.

Nervous System Interaction

• The parasympathetic nervous system functions to slow heart and respiratory rates, counteracting the sympathetic nervous system's alert response.

Emergency Cardiac Interventions

• When encountering a patient with an external defibrillator vest, retain the battery connection and remove the vest to facilitate effective CPR.

• Right-sided heart failure commonly presents with dependent edema, where fluid accumulates in the lower extremities.

Cardiac Anatomy and Physiology

• The inferior vena cava returns deoxygenated blood from the body, except from the legs.

• Use an AED on children aged 1 month to 8 years when pediatric pads and an energy-reducing device are available.

• Major risk factors for acute myocardial infarction (AMI) include conditions like hypertension, but hypoglycemia is not a major risk factor.

Electrocardiogram (ECG) Placement

• When obtaining a 12-lead ECG, place the V1 and V2 electrodes on either side of the sternum to accurately capture heart activity.

Patient Assessment and Treatment

• For a 66-year-old female with chest pressure and known history of hypertension and diabetes, administer oxygen and 324 mg of aspirin, and conduct further assessment.

• The left atrium functions to receive oxygenated blood from the lungs.

Cardiac Rhythm Analysis

• A no shock advised message from the AED indicates the patient is not in ventricular fibrillation, requiring no defibrillation shock.

• Rapid heart rates can reduce cardiac output due to insufficient time for the heart chambers to fully refill between contractions.

Initial Response in Emergency Situations

• Upon arrival at a scene where CPR is already being performed, the immediate action should be to check for a pulse while others continue compressions.

• Least relevant in medical history for chest discomfort is the family history of hypertension.

• After an AED shock, the protocol is to immediately resume CPR to maintain blood circulation.

Causes of Sudden Death and Vascular Anatomy

• Sudden death following an AMI is most often due to ventricular fibrillation, a severe arrhythmia.

• The saphenous vein is found inferior to the trunk of the body.

• The descending aorta divides into the iliac arteries at the level of the umbilicus.

Emergency Treatment Considerations

• For a patient with chest pressure and a nitroglycerin patch, it's crucial to remove the patch if the patient shows signs of hypotension (e.g., blood pressure 78/50 mm Hg).

• The goal of defibrillation is to halt the chaotic contraction of cardiac cells, aiming to restore normal rhythm.

• Common side effects of nitroglycerin include headaches and hypotension, but hypertension is not a typical side effect.