Aneurysm (Dissecting, Repair) for Progressive Care Certified Nurse (PCCN)

Aneurysm (Dissecting, Repair)   Definition/Etiology: Aneurysm: abnormal dilation of an artery due to a weakened vessel wall Types Thoracic vs Abdominal PCCN focuses on AAA Located just below renal arteries Caused by Atherosclerosis Risk Factors: HTN & Smoking Most common in men >60 years old Danger Risk for Dissection: Separation of wall layers Usually asymptomatic […]

Cardiac Surgery (Post-ICU Care) for Progressive Care Certified Nurse (PCCN)

Cardiac Surgery (Post-ICU Care)   Definition/Etiology: CABG Addresses Perfusion (Hose) Problem that cannot be fixed with a stent = CABG No water = No garden Reroutes hose around the blockage Perfusion restored Bypass surgery of clogged hose 3-6 hours CABG indications Non-Emergent/Planned (before MI) Left Coronary Artery “Left Main disease” Emergent/Not Planned (after MI) NSTEMI/STEMI […]

Cardiac Tamponade for Progressive Care Certified Nurse (PCCN)

Cardiac Tamponade   Definition/Etiology: Cardiac Tamponade– Pericarditis with a distinct clinical presentation when fluids fills pericardium too quickly. Pericardium Analogy: Even though the Pericardium is like the shell covering of the heart it has a space of two layers of material. Fist (representing the heart) pushed into the side of a deflated balloon (representing the […]

Cardiac/Vascular Catheterization (Diagnostic, Interventional) for Progressive Care Certified Nurse (PCCN)

Cardiac/Vascular Catheterization (Diagnostic, Interventional)   Definition/Etiology: Definition The insertion of a catheter into a chamber or vessel of the heart. This is done both for diagnostic and interventional purposes. Diagnostic = Detects problem Interventional = minimally invasive surgery = FIX PROBLEM Goal = PERFUSION Every Procedure = 1 Goal Analogy= Perfusion is the plumbing of […]

Cardiogenic Shock For PCCN for Progressive Care Certified Nurse (PCCN)

Cardiogenic Shock   Definition/Etiology: Definition Circulatory failure Poor Perfusion = tissue/organ ischemia = Anoxia (Cell DEATH) Fluid Overload = Lung Injury → Edema Numerous Types = Cardiac Focus Analogy= Circulatory System = The Gas Station Gas Pump = Heart Hose = Vasculature Gasoline = Blood/Volume Vehicle = Tissues Etiology/Cause CAD/MI* Acute Valve dysfunction Heart Failure […]

Cardiomyopathies (Dilated, Hypertrophic, Restrictive) for Progressive Care Certified Nurse (PCCN)

Cardiomyopathies (Dilated, Hypertrophic, Restrictive)   Definition/Etiology: Definition Diseases that affected the Myocardium (middle layer/pumping muscle) Types & Etiology/Cause Dilated Most Common/90% Cases Idiopathic Myocarditis Pregnancy Drug/ETOH abuse Chagas Disease = Travel to Africa Hypertrophy Inherited (60-70%) Hypertension Common in Athletes (SCD)   Pathophysiology: Gas Station Analogy = PUMP FAILURE Dilated Cardiomyopathy Ventricular walls thin Ventricles […]

AV Blocks Dysrhythmias for Progressive Care Certified Nurse (PCCN)

AV Blocks Dysrhythmias   Definition/Etiology: PCCN Focus: Identification, Cause & Treatment Definition When the electrical signal that controls your heartbeat is partially or completely blocked by the AV Node – Slow HR or Skipped/Dropped beats A good analogy for this is the movement of water in a pond. If you drop a stone into one […]

Heart Failure (Acute Exacerbations, Chronic) for Progressive Care Certified Nurse (PCCN)

Heart Failure (Acute Exacerbations, Chronic)   Definition/Etiology: Definition HF is a clinical presentation of impaired cardiac function in which one or both ventricles are unable to maintain an output adequate to meet the metabolic demands of the body. Types Acute-suddenly (maybe a PE) vs Chronic (slow like HTN) Etiology/Cause Left Sided (Systolic (Bad Squeeze/Low EF) […]