Asbestos and Mesothelioma News

Health News

Mesothelioma Swicki

MedicineNet Daily News

Overview of function & structure of the heart

HEART

- Muscular, pumping organ of the body

- Left mediastinum

- Weigh 300 – 400 grams

- Resembles a closed fist

- Covered by serous membrane – pericardium

Pericardium

Parietal layer Pericardial Visceral layer

Fluid – prevent

Friction rub

Layer

  1. Epicardium – outermost
  2. Myocardium – inner – responsible for pumping action/ most dangerous layer - cardiogenic shock
  3. Endocardium – innermost layer

Chambers

  1. Upper – collecting/ receiving chamber - Atria
  2. Lower – pumping/ contracting chamber - Ventricles

Valves

  1. Atrioventricular valves - Tricuspid & mitral valve

Closure of AV valves – gives rise to 1st heart sound or S1 or “lub”

  1. Semi lunar valve

a.) Pulmonic

b.) Aortic

Closure of semilunar valve – gives rise to 2nd heart sound or S2 or “dub”

Extra heart Sound

S3 – ventricular Gallop – CHF

S4 – atrial gallop – MI, HPN

Heart conduction system

  1. Sino atrial node (SA node) (or Keith-Flock node)

Loc – junction of SVC & Rt atrium

Fx- primary pace maker of heart

-Initiates electric impulse of 60 – 100 bpm

  1. Atrioventicular node (AV node or Tawara node)

Loc – inter atrial septum

Delay of electric impulse to allow ventricular filling

  1. Bundle of His – location interventricular septum

Rt main Bundle Branch

Lt main Bundle Branch

  1. Purkenjie Fiber

Loc- walls of ventricles-- Ventricular contractions

SA node

Purkenjie Fibers

Bundle of His

Complete heart block – insertion of pacemaker at Bundle Branch

Metal – Pace Maker – change q3 – 5 yo

Prolonged PR – atrial fib T wave inversion – MI

ST segment depression – angina widening QRS – arrhythmia

ST – elev – MI

CAD – coronary artery dse or Ischemic Heart Dse (IHD)

Atherosclerosis – Myocrdial injury

Angina Pectoris – Myocardial ischemia

MI- myocardial necrosis

ATHEROSCLEROSIS

ARTEROSCLEROSIS

- Hardening or artery due to fat/ lipid deposits at tunica intima.

- Narrowing or artery due to calcium & CHON deposits at tunica media.

Artery – tunica adventitia – outer

- Tunica intima – innermost

- Tunica media – middle

ATHEROSCLEROSIS

Predisposing Factor

  1. Sex – male
  2. Black race
  3. Hyperlipidemia
  4. Smoking
  5. HPN
  6. DM
  7. Oral contraceptive- prolonged use
  8. Sedentary lifestyle
  9. Obesity
  10. Hypothyroidism

Signs & Symptoms

  1. Chest pain
  2. Dyspnea
  3. Tachycardia
  4. Palpitations
  5. Diaphoresis

Treatment

P – percutaneous

T – tansluminar

C – coronary

A – angioplasty

Obj:

  1. To revascularize the myocardium
  2. To prevent angina

3. Increase survival rate

PTCA – done to pt with single occluded vessel .

Multiple occluded vessels

C – coronary

A – arterial

B – bypass

A –and

G – graft surgery

Nsg Mgt Before CABAG

  1. Deep breathing cough exercises
  2. Use of incentive spirometer
  3. Leg exercises

Congenital anomalies:

1. CHD (Congenital heart disease)

§ 2 types: acyanotic and cyanotic

§ Risk factors:

o Maternal infection

o Advancing age

o Medical condition

o Alcoholism

§ Acyanotic: with oxygenation

o Shunting of blood from left side to right side of the heart

o Symptoms: no cyanosis

o Complications: CHF

o Position: semi fowlers

§ Cyanotic: unoxygenated

o Shunting of blood from right to left side of the heart

o Symptoms: with cyanosis/bluish discoloration

o Complication: prone to CVA due to polycythemia, thrombosis

o Position: squatting

§ Common s/sx with acyanotic and cyanotic chd:

o Brow sweating

o Difficulty in feeding

o Frequent urti

o Stunted growth

o Tachypnea

o Tachycardia

§ Nrsg dx: altered tissue perfusion

§ Goal: oxygen, warmth (during operation)

Types of Acyanotic CHD

- Conditions with increased pulmonary blood flow

1. VSD (ventricular septal defect)

- Most common of all congenital defect

- Problem: opening is present in the septum between the two ventricles due to pressure on the left ventricle than that of the right, the blood shunt from left to right across the septum

2. ASD (Atrial septal defect)

- Abnormal communication between the 2 atria

- Frequent in girls than boys

3. PDA (Patent ductus arteriosus)

- Common in girls

- Ductus arteriosus is an accessory fetal structures that connects pulmonary artery to the aorta

- Problem: if failed to close after birth: blood will shunt from the aorta to the pulmonary artery to left atrium to left ventricle then to the aorta to the pulmonary artery again

- Sx: machinery murmur

- Lad data: 2d echo

- Mgt: indomethacin – a prostaglandin inhibitor

· Decrease prostaglandin will stimulate the closure of ductus arteriosus

- Admin oxygen

- Conditions with obstructive congenital heart disease

1. Pulmonic stenosis

- Problem: narrowing of the pulmonic valve or pulmo artery

- Right ventricle cant evacuate the blood which may lead to right ventricular hypertrophy

2. Aortic stenosis

- Stricture of the aortic valve which prevents blood from passing freely from the left ventricle of the heart into the aorta thus increasing pressure in the heart and lead to left ventricle hypertrophy

3. Coarctation of aorta

- Narrowing of the lumen of the aorta due to constricting band

- Sx: higher BP in upper extremities

CONGESTIVE HEART FAILURE

CHF – CONGESTIVE HEART FAILURE - Inability of heart to pump blood towards systemic circulation

1.) Left sided heart failure:

Predisposing factors:

1.) 90% mitral valve stenosis – due RHD, aging

RHD affects mitral valve – streptococcal infection

Dx: - Aso titer – anti streptolysine O 300 total units

- Steroids

- Penicillin

- Aspirin

Complication: RS-CHF

Aging – degeneration / calcification of mitral valve

Ischemic heart disease

HPN, MI, Aortic stenosis

S/Sx

Pulmonary congestion/ Edema

  1. Dyspnea
  2. Orthopnea (Diff of breathing sitting pos – platypnea)
  3. Paroxysmal nocturnal dysnea – PNO- nalulunod
  4. Productive cough with blood tinged sputum
  5. Frothy salivation (from lungs)
  6. Cyanosis
  7. Rales/ crackles – due to fluid
  8. Bronchial wheezing
  9. PMI – displaced lateral – due cardiomegaly
  10. Pulsus alternons – weak-strong pulse
  11. Anorexia & general body malaise
  12. S3 – ventricular gallop

Dx

  1. CXR – cardiomegaly
  2. PAP – Pulmonary Arterial Pressure

PCWP – Pulmonary CapillaryWedge Pressure

PAP – measures pressure of R ventricle. Indicates cardiac status.

PCWP – measures end systolic/ diastolic pressure

PAP & PCWP:

Swan – ganz catheterization – cardiac catheterization is done at bedside at ICU

(Trachesostomy – bedside) - Done 5 – 20 mins – scalpel & trachesostomy set

CVP – indicates fluid or hydration status

Increase CVP – decrease flow rate of IV

Decrease CVP – increase flow rate of IV

3. Echocardiography – reveals enlarged heart chamber or cardiomayopathy

4. ABG – PCO2 increase, PO2 decrease hypoxemia resp acidosis

2.) Right sided HF

Predisposing factor

  1. 90% - tricuspid stenosis
  2. COPD
  3. Pulmonary embolism
  4. Pulmonic stenosis
  5. Left sided heart failure

S/Sx

Venous congestion

- Neck or jugular vein distension

- Pitting edema

- Ascites

- Wt gain

- Hepatomegalo/ splenomegaly

- Jaundice

- Pruritus

- Esophageal varies

- Anorexia, gen body malaise

Diagnosis:

1. CXR – cardiomegaly

2. CVP – measures the pressure at R atrium

Normal: 4 to 10 cm of water

Increase CVP 10 – hypervolemia

Decrease CVP 4 – hypovolemia

Flat on bed – post of pt when giving CVP

Position during CVP insertion – Trendelenburg to prevent pulmonary embolism & promote ventricular filling.

3. Echocardiography – enlarged heart chamber / cardiomyopathy

4.Liver enzyme

SGPT ( ALT)

SGOT AST

Nsg mgt: Increase force of myocardial contraction = increase CO

3 – 6L of CO

1. Administer meds:

Tx for LSHF: M – morphine SO4 to induce vasodilatation

A – aminophylline & decrease anxiety

D – digitalis (digoxin)

D - diuretics

O - oxygen

G - gases

a.) Cardiac glycosides

Increase myocardial = increase CO

Digoxin (Lanoxin). Antidote: digivine

Digitoxin: metabolizes in liver not in kidneys not given if with kidney failure.

b.) Loop diuretics: Lasix – effect with in 10-15 min. Max = 6 hrs

c.) Bronchodilators: Aminophillin (Theophyllin). Avoid giving caffeine

d.) Narcotic analgesic: Morphine SO4 - induce vasodilaton & decrease anxiety

e.) Vasodilators – NTG

f.) Anti-arrythmics – Lidocaine

2. Administer O2 inhalation – high! @ 3 -4L/min via nasal cannula

3. High fowlers

4. Restrict Na!

5. Provide meticulous skin care

6. Weigh pt daily. Assess for pitting edema.

Measure abdominal girth daily & notify MD

7. Monitor V/S, I&O, breath sounds

8. Institute bloodless phlebotomy. Rotating tourniquet or BP cuff rotated clockwise q 15 mins = to promote decrease venous return

9. Diet – decrease salt, fats & caffeine

10. HT:

a) Complications :shock

Arrhythmia

Thrombophlebitis

MI

Cor Pulmonale – RT ventricular hypertrophy

b.) Dietary modifications

c.) Adherence to meds