Chapter 25 Assessment of Cardiovascular Function
Cardiac Action Potential
Depolarization: electrical activation of cell caused by influx of sodium into
... [Show More] cell while
potassium exits cell
This exchange of ions creates a positively charged intracellular space and a negatively
charged extracellular space.
Repolarization: return of cell to resting state caused by re-entry of potassium into cell while
sodium exits
Refractory Periods
Effective (absolute) refractory period: phase in which cells are incapable of depolarizing.( no
desert no matter what you have no room)
Cell is unresponsive to any electrical stimulus.
Relative refractory period: phase in which cells require stronger-than-normal stimulus to
depolarize ( EG you have room for desert so if stimulus is great enough)
Cardiac Hemodynamics
Cardiac Output
Refers to the total amount of blood ejected by one of the ventricles in liters/minute.
In a resting adult is 4 to 6 L/min normally
Computed by multiplying the stroke volume by the heart rate.
Stroke volume is the amount of blood ejected from one of the ventricles per heartbeat.
Average resting stroke volume is about 60 to 130 mL.
Preload: degree of stretch of the ventricular cardiac muscle fibers at end of diastole
End of diastole is the period when filling volume in the ventricles is the highest and
the degree of stretch of the muscle fibers is the greatest.
Preload is referred to as left ventricular end-diastolic pressure.
As the volume of blood returning to the heart increases, muscle fiber stretch also
increases (increased preload), resulting in stronger contraction and a greater SV
Preload is decreased by a reduction in the volume of blood returning to the ventricles.
o Diuresis, venodilating agents (nitrates), excessive loss of blood, or dehydration
(loss of body fluids from vomiting, diarrhea, or diaphoresis).
Preload is increased by increasing the return of circulating blood volume to the ventricles.
o Controlling the loss of blood or body fluids and replacing fluids (blood
transfusions and IV fluid administration).
Afterload: resistance to ejection of blood from ventricle
Inverse relationship between afterload and stroke volume. Afterload is increased by
arterial vasoconstriction leading to decreased stroke volume. Arterial vasodilation
reduces afterload because there is less resistance to ejection, and stroke volume increases.
Contractility: ability of cardiac muscle to shorten in response to electrical impulse
Refers to the force generated by the contracting myocardium.
Enhanced by circulating catecholamines, sympathetic neuronal activity, and certain meds
(digoxin, dopamine, dobutamine).
Increased contractility results in increased stroke volume.
Depressed by hypoxemia, acidosis, and certain meds (beta blockers)
Ejection fraction: percent of end diastolic volume ejected with each heart beat.
Ejection fraction of the normal left ventricle is 55% to 65%.
Used as a measure of myocardial contractility.
An ejection fraction of less than 40% indicated decreased left ventricular function and
patient may require treatment for HF.
Assessment of the Cardiovascular System:Based on several factors:
Severity of the patient’s symptoms, Presence of risk factors, Practice setting, Purpose of
the assessment
Health History
Chief complaint, History of Present Illness, Past medical, surgical history, Past family
history, Past social history, Home medications, Allergies
Common Symptoms
Chest pain or discomfort (angina pectoris, ACS, dysrhythmias, valvular heart disease)
Shortness of breath or Dyspnea (ACS, cardiogenic shock, HF, valvular heart disease)
Peripheral edema, weight gain, abdominal distention due to enlarged spleen and liver or
ascites (HF)
Palpitations (Tachycardia from a variety of causes, including ACS, caffeine or other
stimulants, electrolyte imbalances, stress, valvular heart disease, ventricular aneurysms)
Fatigue referred to as vital exhaustion (early warning symptom of ACS, HF, or valvular
heart disease, characterized by feeling tired or fatigued, irritable, and dejected).
Dizziness, syncope, changes in level of consciousness (Cardiogenic shock,
cerebrovascular disorders, dysrhythmias, hypotension, postural hypotension, vasovagal
episode)
Chest Pain
Identify quantity of pain (0-10 SCALE), Identify location of pain, Identify quality of
pain, Radiation of pain
Associated signs/symptoms (diaphoresis or nausea)
Events that precipitate the onset of symptoms and duration of symptoms, and measures
that aggravate or relieve symptoms, Duration of pain
Assess for other cardiac conditions
Assess for other significant conditions (see p. 663-664)
o Pneumonia, pulmonary embolism, Hiatal hernia, GERD, Costochondritis,
Vascular
Assessment
Medications- A careful med history often uncovers common medication errors and
causes for non-adherence to the medication regimen.
Nutrition
o Dietary modifications, exercise, weight loss, and careful monitoring are important
strategies for managing three major cardiovascular risk factors: hyperlipidemia,
hypertension, and diabetes.
Diets restricted in sodium, fat, cholesterol, or calories are common
Elimination:
o Nocturia (awakening at night to urinate) is common in patients with HF
Sleep, rest
o Orthopnea the need to sit upright or stand to avoid feeling short of breath.
o Sudden awakening with shortness of breath, called paroxysmal nocturnal
dyspnea, is a symptom of worsening HF. Caused by the reabsorption of fluid from
dependent areas of the body (arms and legs) back into the circulatory system
within hours of lying in bed. Fluid shift increases preload and places increased
demand of the heart of patients with HF, causing sudden pulmonary congestion.
Physical Assessment
General assessment
Any deviations from the normal?
o Heart as a pump (reduced pulse pressure, displaced PMI from fifth intercostal
space midclavicular line, gallop sounds, murmurs)
o Atrial/ventricular filling volumes and pressures (elevated jugular venous
distention, peripheral edema, ascites, crackles, postural changes in BP).
o Cardiac output (reduced pulse pressure, hypotension, tachycardia, reduced urine
output, lethargy, or disorientation)
o Compensatory mechanisms (peripheral vasoconstriction, tachycardia)
Cardiac Specific
General appearance
o Evaluates the patient’s LOC
o Changes may be attributed to inadequate perfusion of the brain from a
compromised cardiac output of thromboembolic event (stroke).
o Observe for signs of distress (pain, discomfort, SOB, anxiety).
o Measure height and weight
Assessment of skin and extremities
o Skin color, temp, and texture for problems with arterial or venous circulation.
o S/S of acute obstruction of arterial blood flow in the extremities, referred to as the
six P’s are pain, pallor, pulselessness, paresthesia, poikilothermia (coldness), and
paralysis. Assess frequently
o Hematoma, or a localized collection of clotted blood in the tissue.
o Edema is an abnormal accumulation of fluid in dependent areas
o Prolonged capillary refill time indicates inadequate arterial perfusion
o Clubbing of the fingers and toes indicates chronic hemoglobin desaturation and is
associated with congenital heart disease.
o Hair loss, brittle nails, dry or scaling skin, atrophy of the skin, skin color changes,
and ulcerations due to reduced oxygen and nutrient supply
BP
o Pulse pressure is the difference between the systolic and the diastolic pressure.
It is a reflection of stroke volume, ejection velocity, and systemic vascular
resistance. Normally 30 to 40 mm Hg, indicates how well the patient maintains
cardiac output.
o Postural blood pressure changes- normal postural responses that occur when a
person moves from a lying to a standing position include:
A heart rate increase of 5 to 20 bpm above the resting rate
Unchanged systolic pressure, or a decrease of up to 10 mm Hg
Slight increase of 5 mm Hg in diastolic pressure
o Postural (orthostatic) hypotension is a sustained decrease of at least 20 mm Hg in
systolic BP or 10 mm Hg in diastolic BP within 3 minutes of moving from a lying
or sitting to a standing position. Accompanied by dizziness, lightheadedness, or
syncope.
Arterial pulses
o Pulse rate
Normal pulse rate varies from a low of 50 bpm in healthy, athletic young
adults to rates well in excess of 100 bpm after exercise
o Pulse rhythm
Heart rate could be counted by auscultating the apical pulse located at the
PMI, for a full minute while simultaneously palpating the radial pulse.
Disturbances of rhythm (dysrhythmias) often result in a pulse deficit,
which is a difference between the apical and radial pulse rates. Pulse
deficits occur with atrial fibrillation, atrial flutter, and premature
ventricular contractions.
o Pulse amplitude- Used to assess peripheral arterial circulation.
+1 diminished
+2 normal
+3 moderately increased
+4 markedly increased
Jugular venous distention
o Right sided heart function can be estimated by observing the pulsations of the
jugular veins of the neck, which reflects central venous pressure (CVP). CVP is
the pressure in the right atria of the right ventricle at the end of diastole.
o This abnormality is observed is patients with right-sided HF, due to hypervolemia,
pulmonary hypertension, and pulmonary stenosis.
Heart Inspection and Palpation
Heart Auscultation
o Normal heart sounds
S1, S2 produced by closure of the AV valves and the semilunar valves.
The period between S1 and S2 – systole
Period between S2 and S1 – diastole
Only sounds heard during the cardiac cycle.
S1 - tricuspid and mitral valve closure creates the first heart sound. “Lub”
heard the loudest at the apical area.
S2 – closure of the pulmonic and aortic valves. “Dub” heard the loudest
over the aortic and pulmonic areas.
Abnormal heart sounds
S3, S4 gallops, opening snaps, systolic clicks, and murmurs.
S3 and S4 gallops are heard during diastole.
S3 “Dub” is heard early in diastole immediately after S2. “Lub-dub-DUB”
S4 “Lub” occurs late in diastole. Heard just before S1.. “LUB lub-dub”
Assessment of Lungs:
Hemoptysis: pink, froth sputum is indicative of acute pulmonary edema.
Cough: a dry, hacking cough from irritation of small airways is common in patients with
pulmonary congestion from HF. [Show Less]