Pathophysiology

Pathophysiology Study Guide

©2018 of 131 Cardiac Ischemia Myocardial ischemia is caused when the flow of blood to the heart is reduced and it suffers from inadequate oxygen. It happens due to partial or complete blockage of the arteries of the heart. It is the disorder in which the heart muscles are damaged and the pumping efficiency of the heart is reduced. It is likely to cause a heart attack if the blockage occurs severely and suddenly. Myocardial ischemia is a well-known cause of abnormal rhythms of the heart. Symptoms include pain in the neck, jaw, shoulder, and arm; shortness of breath at the time of activity; fast rhythm of heart beat; nausea and vomiting; sweating; and fatigue. It can be treated by repairing and improving the flow of blood to the muscles of the heart. Clinical treatment includes medications, surgical procedures to open the arteries that are blocked, and bypass surgery in extreme cases. Cardiac Injury Also known as blunt cardiac injury (BCI) this refers to the injury suffered by the heart due to blunt trauma. The clinical manifestation of BCI can range from no symptoms to transient arrhythmias and rupture of the cardiac wall. The mechanism of blunt cardiac injury includes motor vehicle accidents, pedestrians hit by motor vehicles, falls, crush injuries, assault, and other injuries in which there is a direct blow to the chest. Other rare mechanisms include valve injuries, blunt pericardial rupture, and blunt coronary artery injuries. It is generally associated with multi-system trauma and is associated with rib fracture, sternal fracture, and pneumothorax. Injury patterns can be categorized as pericardial injury, valvular injuries, coronary artery injuries, cardiac chamber rupture, and myocardial contusion. Severe forms of BCI have the potential to cause exsanguinations, pericardial tamponade, and even death. Cardiac Infarct Also known as myocardial infarction or heart attack, this is the irreversible necrosis of the muscles of the heart. In this case, the blood flow to the heart gets fully blocked and leads to the damaging of heart tissues. It is a life-threatening disorder. The main factors contributing to cardiac infract are high blood pressure, high cholesterol, high saturated fats, high trans fats, high triglyceride levels, obesity, age, family history, lack of exercise, diabetes, and lifestyle causes like stress. Symptoms and signs of the occurrence of heart attack include pressure and tightness in the chest; pain in the jaw, chest, arms, neck, and back that lasts for few minutes or comes back and goes away frequently; shortness of breath; sweating; nausea and vomiting; anxiety; coughing; dizziness; and tachycardia. Diagnosis of myocardial infract include electrocardiogram, stress test, angiogram, and echocardiogram. Treatment is done through angioplasty or coronary artery bypass graft surgery. Complications/ Sequelae There are a variety of complications associated with coronary artery disease. These complications include heart failure; a reduction in the pumping efficiency of the heart causing accumulation of fluid in the lungs; difficulty in breathing; swelling in legs, abdomen, and liver; abnormal rhythm of the heart; angina; heart attack; sudden death; and atherosclerotic plaques. Achieve Page 55