Rapid Cardiac Care

List of Abbreviations
Preface
Acknowledgements

Part 1: Cardiac Anatomy and Physiology

Anatomy, 3

Cardiac cycle, 5

Cardiac conduction system, 6

Coronary circulation, 8

Part 2: Rapid Cardiac Assessment

Introduction, 13

Cardiac history taking, 14

Physical examination, 18

Cardiac Monitoring, 21

Rapid rhythm recognition, 23

Cardiac investigations, 25

Part 3: Rapid 12 ]lead ECG Interpretation

Introduction, 31

Cardiac vectors and axis, 33

Rapid ECG analysis tool, 34

Rate and rhythm assessment, 35

QRS axis calculation, 36

Pre ]excitation syndromes, 37

Bundle branch block and fascicular block, 38

Myocardial ischaemia or infarction, 41

Other abnormalities seen on the 12 ]lead ECG, 44

Part 4: Cardiac Conditions A–Z

Acute coronary syndromes, 47

Acute coronary syndromes: treatment and interventions, 51

Acute heart failure, 54

Aortic aneurysm, 57

Aortic dissection, 59

Aortic regurgitation, 61

Aortic stenosis, 63

Arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy, 65

Atrial fibrillation, 67

Atrial flutter, 69

Brugada syndrome, 71

Cardiac arrest, 73

Cardiac arrhythmias: treatment and interventions, 75

Cardiogenic shock, 79

Dilated cardiomyopathy, 81

Heart blocks, 83

Hypertension, 86

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, 88

Infective endocarditis, 90

Long QT syndrome, 92

Marfan syndrome, 94

Mitral regurgitation, 96

Mitral stenosis, 98

Myocarditis, 100

Pericarditis, 102

Supraventricular tachycardia, 104

Takotsubo cardiomyopathy, 107

Ventricular tachycardia, 109

Wolff ]Parkinson ]White syndrome (Pre ]excitation syndrome), 111

Index, 113

Rapid Cardiac Care is an indispensable resource for all frontline staff working with acutely ill patients. Offering easy access to the knowledge base needed to provide rapid, safe and effective cardiac care, it is ideal for newly qualified healthcare professionals including, nurses, paramedics, cardiac technicians, junior medics, and physiotherapists.

Key features include:

• Essential information to support the assessment of the cardiac patient including focused history taking and physical assessment, rhythm interpretation and 12-lead ECG assessment
• Practical guidance on how to care for patients with cardiac emergencies, including acute coronary syndromes, arrhythmias, heart failure and cardiac arrest
• A quick reference A-Z section that explores a wide range of conditions affecting the heart, each with a comprehensive overview of patient presentation and strategies to guide patient assessment and management
• Diagrams and images are provided to facilitate learning

Author Information

Emma Menzies-Gow, Senior Lecturer (Cardiac Nursing), Kingston and St. George’s Joint Faculty, St. George’s, University of London, UK.

Christine Spiers, Principal Lecturer (Cardiac Care), School of Health Sciences, University of Brighton, UK.