Cardiac Conditions
Advanced First Aid
This gives the lesson plan for a 30 minute presentation on
Cardiac Conditions.
Introduction and Motivation
- [0:00] Aims:
-
- Know the common causes of cardiac emergencies
- Know the anatomy and physiology of the cardiovascular system
- Be able to diagnose and treat trauma to the heart
- Be able to diagnose and treat medical afflictions of the heart
- Motivation
-
- Heart attacks are the biggest single killer in the UK
- Heart problems are often secondary to chest trauma
Anatomy and Physiology
- [02:00] Cardiovascular system
- Sketch on board:
- Heart structure
- Link to lungs
- Major blood vessels
- Coronary arteries
- Heart/lung positions
- Note common theme: overriding need for oxygen
Medical Conditions
- [07:00] Heart attacks (myocardial infarction)
- Elicit from class:
- definition
- signs and symptoms
- definitive treatment
- Note overriding need for O2
- Angina
- Elicit from class:
- definition
- differential diagnosis from MI
- definitive treatment
- [11:00] Aortic aneurysm
- Definition:
- Tear in inner layer of aorta, leading to "balloon"
of blood beside main aorta
- Rupture may empty blood into various parts of chest, often fatal
- Often occurs in hypertensives
- Signs and symptoms:
- Severe, "tearing" pain in chest or back
- Signs of obstruction of blood flow to
certain parts of the body
- Hard to differentiate from MI
- Treatment: pretty much the same as MI, rapid
hospital treatment required
- Heart failure
- Definition:
- Mechanical failure of one side of heart
- May be present in elderly casualties along with
lung problems
- Signs and symptoms:
- Contrast left side (congestive) vs. right side
- Often serious shock (heating system similie)
- Left-side is vicious cycle of O2 depletion
- Treatment:
- High-flow O2
- Congestive implies half-sitting
Traumatic Injury
- [18:00] Cardiac Tamponade
- Definition:
- Bleeding inside inelastic pericardium
- Causes:
- Usually follows trauma such as stab to chest
- May develop slowly
- Signs and symptoms:
- "Beck's Triad": muffled heart sounds, shock,
elevated venous pressure (JVD)
- Treatment:
- High-flow O2
- Urgent hospital treatment
Arrythmias
- [22:00] Quick introduction to ECG
- Heart electrical system:
- Sketch on board
- Animate pulse
- Build up waveform
- Common arrythmias:
- Ventricular fibrillation:
- Chaotic pattern
- No effective cardiac output
- Asystole:
- "Flatline"
- Also no mechanical output
- Ventricular Tachycardia
- Very fast, regular
- May or may not have output
- Bradycardia
- Slow pulse, < 60 bpm at rest
- May be natural in e.g. Tariq
- Note heart's escape rhythm mechanism
Conclusions
- [28:00]
-
- Cardiac problems are treated after breathing problems
- High O2 is a must except for mild angina
- Hospital is likewise a must
- Reassure patient and treat for shock
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