Acute Cardiac Care

Course Outline

Acute Cardiac Care provides nurses with a comprehensive understanding of the current practice and principles underlying the care and management of acute cardiac conditions. It addresses the management of acute coronary syndromes (ACS) with an emphasis on evidence-based pharmacological management, cardiac emergencies (cardiac arrest, arrhythmia, acute pulmonary oedema, cardiogenic shock), current diagnostic and interventional modalities for the management of ACS, including risk stratification, and the ethical, political, social and economic factors that impact upon the provision of acute cardiac services in Australia and the UK.

Edited by renowned academics and clinicians in the field, this practical text will encourage nurses to think critically about evidence and management of acute coronary conditions, and provide a guide on how and where to look for up-to-date evidence and guidelines.

Key Fetures:

About the Authors

Angela M. Kucia is a Clinical Practice Consultant in Acute Cardiac Assessment at the Queen Elizabeth and Lyell McEwin Hospitals in Adelaide, South Australia. Angela also lectures in postgraduate cardiovascular nursing at the University of South Australia and has been involved in acute cardiac nursing for twenty years.

Tom Quinn is Professor of Clinical Practice at the University of Surrey and also Visiting Professor of Cardiac Nursing at Coventry University, UK. Tom has extensive clinical experience both in and out of hospital, and was closely involved in developing and implementing the National Service Framework for Coronary Heart Disease and related policies in England.

Learning Objectives

After completing this course you’ll be able to:

1. Describe the seven phases of the cardiac cycle.
2. Define cardiac output, preload, afterload, and contractility.
3. Compare chemoreceptors and baroreceptors.
4. Describe several chemicals in the body that affect heart action.
5. Describe myocytes and autorhythmic cells.
6. Describe the sinoatrial node.
7. Compare the left anterior descending artery and the left circumflex artery.
8. List the three major systems that drain the capillary bed.
9. List the various risk factors for cardiovascular disease.
10. Discuss the effects of hypertension.
11. Describe populations at risk for coronary vascular disease.
12. Discuss psychosocial health as related to cardiovascular disease.
13. Discuss the six steps of evidence-based practice.
14. Describe the clinical audit as a means of evaluating evidence.
15. Define an ethical dilemma.
16. State why genetic research is vital.
17. Describe the method for measuring jugular venous pressure.
18. Compare a pulsus alternans and a pulsus paradoxus.
19. Describe adventitious breath sounds according to Table 9.4.
20. Describe the theoretical basis for doing a 12-lead ECG.
21. Describe the normal waveforms and their significance according to Table 10.2.
22. Describe patient preparation for an ECG.
23. Compare the three-electrode monitoring system, five-electrode monitoring system, and the ten-electrode monitoring system.
24. Define telemetry and discuss drawbacks.
25. Describe the various generic laboratory tests.
26. Describe commonly used markers of myocardial necrosis.
27. Describe a cardiac catheterization procedure including peri-procedural and post-procedural care.
28. Compare transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography.
29. Describe magnetic resonance imaging and list the risks.
30. List structural abnormalities and arrhythmias seen in sudden cardiac death.
31. Describe the types of cardiomyopathies.
32. List several hazards to the victim and rescuer when an out-of-hospital arrest occurs.
33. Describe the basic life support flow chart. (Figure 15.2)
34. Define ethical principles in resuscitation.
35. Describe the advanced directive.
36. Describe several contributing factors to myocardial ischemia or infarction.
37. Compare patients with an elevated ST segment and non-ST elevation during a myocardial infarction.
38. Discuss triage nurse guidelines for identification of acute coronary syndrome patients. (Table 18.6)
39. Discuss the findings of Pollack and Gibler 2001, regarding risk factors for CAD.
40. Discuss the value of exercise tolerance tests when biomarkers are negative.
41. Describe the steps of the “4 D’s.”
42. State the key goal of reperfusion strategy.
43. List the limitations and benefits of lytic therapy.
44. List the three critical time periods when seeking to reperfuse in STEMI.
45. Compare the use of nitrates, beta blockers, and calcium channel blockers as anti-ischemic therapies.
46. Compare unfractionated heparin and low-molecular-weight heparin according to Table 22.3.
47. Describe the three types of heart block.
48. Compare atrial fibrillation and atrial flutter.
49. Discuss the findings of Peberdy et al. 2003, regarding in-hospital cardiac arrest and strategies to facilitate early detection.
50. Describe the ABCDE approach during post-resuscitation care.
51. Describe a simple “2-minute” bedside tool for clinical assessment of a patient’s hemodynamic status in acute heart failure, according to Nohria et al. 2003.
52. Describe treatments for “refractory” in acute heart failure.
53. Describe the Chronic Care Model which was adapted by the World Health Organization.
54. Describe secondary prevention.

Course Contents

1. Mechanisms of the Cardiovascular System
    Overview
    Basic Heart Anatomy
    The Cardiac Cycle
    Cardiac Output
    Conclusion
2. Regulation of Cardiac and Vascular Function
    Overview
    Central Nervous System Regulation of the Cardiovascular System
    Vasomotor Control
    Baroreceptors
    Chemoreceptors
    Humoral Control
    Electrolytes
    Conclusion
3. Cardiac Electrophysiology
    Overview
    Cardiac Cells
    The Action Potential
    The Action Potential in Non-Pacemaker Cells
    The Cardiac Conduction System
    The Electrocardiogram
    Conclusion
4. The Coronary Circulation
    Overview
    The Coronary Circulation
    The Left Main Coronary Artery
    The LAD Artery
    The LCX or CX Artery
    The Right Coronary Artery
    Collateral Circulation
    Microvascular Circulation
    Coronary Venous Circulation
5. Risk Factors for Cardiovascular Disease
    Overview
    Classification of Risk Factors for CVD
    Biomedical Risk Factors
    Behavioural Risk Factors
    Psychosocial Risk Factors
    Conclusion
6. Populations at Risk
    Overview
    Risk Factors for CVD
    Clarifying Risk
    Populations at Increased Risk
    Targeting Treatment
    Using What We Know
    Conclusion
7. Evidence-Based Practice
    Overview
    The Need for Change
    Evidence-Based Practice
    Barriers to the Evidence
    Conclusion
8. Ethics of Research in Acute Cardiac Care
    Overview
    Evidence-Based Medicine and Clinical Trials
    Informed Consent for Trial Participation
    What is an Ethical Dilemma?
    Genetic Research
    Considering an Offer for the Unit to Participate in a Clinical Trial
    Ethical Issues in Marketing and Pricing of New Pharmaceutical Agents
    Conclusion
9. Cardiovascular Assessment
    Overview
    Health History
    Physical Examination
    Conclusion
10. Electrocardiogram Interpretation
    Overview
    Normal Sequence of Depolarisation and Depolarisation
    Theoretical Basis of Electrocardiography
    Determining the Cardiac Axis
    Determination of Heart Rate and Electrocardiographic Intervals
    Chamber Enlargement
    Bundle Branch Block
    ECG Changes Related to Myocardial Ischaemia and Infarction
    Obtaining a 12-Lead ECG
    Conclusion
11. Cardiac Monitoring
    Overview
    ECG Monitoring Systems and Lead Formats
    Indications for Arrhythmia Monitoring
    Nursing Considerations in the Care of the Patient with ECG Monitoring
12. Laboratory Tests
    Overview
    Generic Laboratory Tests
    Electrolytes
    Renal Function
    Glucose Measurement
    Lipid Profiles
    Complete Blood Examination
    Clotting Screen
    Biochemical Markers
    Marks of Myocardial Necrosis
    Cardiac Natriuretic Peptides
    C-Reactive Protein
    Conclusion
13. Diagnostic Procedures
    Overview
    Chest X-Ray
    Cardiac Catheterisation (Angiogram)
    Echocardiography
    Stress Testing
    Magnetic Resonance Imaging
    Computerised Tomography
    Electrophysiology Studies
    Conclusion
14. Sudden Cardiac Death
    Overview
    Definitions
    Burden of Disease and Risk Factors for SCD
    Sudden Death in the Young (Including Athletes)
    Structural Abnormalities
    Cardiomyopathies and SCD
    Genetic Syndromes and SCD
    Conclusion
15. Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest and Automated External Defibrillator
    Overview
    Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest
    Hazards to the Victim and Rescuer
    Recognition of Cardiac Arrest and BLS
    Automated External Defibrillation
    Conclusion
16. Ethical Issues in Resuscitation
    Overview
    Guiding Ethical Principles in Resuscitation
    Futility
    Rights of the Individual Versus the Needs of Society
    Patient Perceptions of Resuscitation
    Introducing the DNR Conversation
    Witnessed Resuscitation
    Withdrawal of Treatment
    Organ Donation
    Training and Research with the Newly Dead
17. Pathogenesis of Acute Coronary Syndromes
    Overview
    Acute Coronary Syndrome
    Atherosclerosis
    Endothelial Dysfunction
    Plaque Disruption
    Inflammation
    Thrombosis
    Conclusion
18. Presentations of Acute Coronary Syndromes
    Overview
    Angina Pectoris
    Stable Angina
    The Acute Coronary Syndromes
    Global Trends in ACS Patients
    The 12-lead Electrocardiogram in ACS
    Cardiac Markers in ACS
    Clinical Assessment and Risk Stratification in ACS
    Conclusion
19. Risk Stratification in Acute Coronary Syndromes
    Overview
    Introduction
    Risk Stratification
    Risk Stratification Guidelines
    Risk Scores
    Chest Pain Units
    Conclusion
20. Reducing Time to Treatment
    Overview
    Benefits of Early Reperfusion
    Identifying and Addressing Delays
    Conclusion
21. Reperfusion Strategies
    Overview
    Pathogenesis of STEMI
    Principles of Reperfusion Strategies
    Options for Reperfusion
    Strategies for Reducing Treatment Time Delays
    Detecting and Managing Failed Reperfusion
    Preventing and Detecting Re-Occlusion
    Conclusion
22. Adjunct Pharmacological Agents in Acute Coronary Syndromes
    Overview
    Anti-Ischaemic Therapies
    Antiplatelet and Anticoagulant Therapy
    Inhibitors of the Rennin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone System
    Statins
    Conclusion
23. Arrhythmias
    Overview
    Basic Electrophysiology
    Mechanisms of Errhythmia Generations
    Cardiac Monitoring
    Rhythm Interpretation
    Determining the Rhythm
    Tachyarrhythmias
    Asystole
    Treatment of Arrhythmias
    Conclusion
24. In-Hospital Resuscitation
    Overview
    Introduction
    Prevention: Systems for Identifying Patients at Risk of Cardiac Arrest
    Early Recognition and Management of Critically Ill Patients
    In-hospital Resuscitation
    Working Within your Scope of Practice
    Audit and Data CVollection
    Conclusion
25. Acute Heart Failure
    Overview
    Introduction
    Establishing the Diagnosis
    Management Specifics
    Refractory AHF
    Dignity, Communication and Preventing Complications: “Back to Basics”
    Managing Chronic Heart Failure Better to Reduce the Need for Re-Hospitalization
    Conclusion
26. Convalescence
    Overview
    Introduction
    Assessment and Identification of Patient Needs
    High-Risk Groups
    Promoting Self-Management in the Convalescent Phase
    Particular Concerns of Spouses and Family Members
    Accommodating Convalescence and Discharge Planning Following an Acute Cardiac Event
    Models of Intervention to Facilitate Convalescents and Secondary Prevention
    Nursing Strategies to Promote Convalescents
    Palliative Care
    Conclusion
27. Discharge Planning and Secondary Prevention
    Overview
    Discharge Planning
    Secondary Prevention
    Provision of Secondary Prevention
    Components of Secondary Prevention
    Cardio-Protective Drug Therapy
    Challenges in Secondary Prevention
    Conclusion

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