Chest Pain and the BLS Provider

1. Chest Pain and the BLS Provider By Daniel B. Green II, NREMT-P, CCP

2. Objectives • Review Cardiac A & P • Discuss common causes of chest pain • Discuss the BLS assessment of the chest pain patient • Discuss less common presentations of cardiac patients • Discuss BLS treatment of the chest pain patient

3. Heart Disease • Still leading cause of death in the United States • Survivability is increasing due to research • Treatment of MIs is currently concentrating on reperfusion in Cath Labs • Physicians are emphasizing risk factor modification to prevent disease

4. Diabetes Hypertension Increased Cholesterol and Lipids Family History Known Coronary Artery Disease Obesity Smoking Sedentary Lifestyle Carbohydrate Intolerance Personality Type Poor Diet Stress/Tension Oral Contraceptive Use Risk Factors

5. Prevention Strategies • Educational Programs • Nutrition • Smoking Cessation • Recognition of Symptoms and Prompt Intervention

6. Cardiac Anatomy and Physiology • Heart is located in the mediastinum • 2/3 of mass to the left of the midline • Top is the base • Bottom is the apex • About the size of the fist

7. Cardiac Anatomy and Physiology • Epicardium • Outermost layer (Visceral Pericardium) • Myocardium • Thick middle layer • Endocardium • Smooth, inner layer of connective tissue

8. Chambers of the Heart • Atria • Superior chambers • Less muscular • Ventricles • Inferior chambers • More muscular • Left is 3 times thicker than right

9. Heart Valves • Primary Function • Prevent blood from flowing backward • AV valves • Between atria and ventricles • Tricuspid (Right) • Mitral (Left) • Semiluner Valves • Pulmonic • Aortic

10. Cardiac Physiology • Two pump system • Low Pressure (Right Side) • High Pressure (Left Side) • Circulates blood throughout body to carry oxygen to tissues and remove waste • Let’s trace a drop of blood through the body

11. Coronary Arteries • Carry 200-250 ml each minute • Left coronary artery carries 85% • LAD • Circumflex • Right coronary carries remaining volume

12. Conduction System • Cardiac muscle is unique • Automaticity • Excitability • Conductivity • Contractility

13. Conduction System • Sinoatrial node (SA) • Primary pacemaker • Inherent rate 60-100 • Atrioventricular Junction • Inherent rate 40-60 • AV Node and Bundle of His • Ventricular Sites • Inherent rate 20-30

14. Level of consciousness (AVPU) Airway Breathing Rate and depth Effort Breath Sounds Circulation Pulses Skin Color, Temperature, Condition Blood Pressure Edema (Pitting/Sacral) Initial Cardiac Assessment

15. Focused Cardiac Exam • Should include 3 components • Identify a chief complaint • History of the event and significant medical history • A physical examination

16. Chief Complaint • Cardiovascular disease may cause a variety of symptoms • Common complaints include • Chest pain/discomfort • Shoulder, arm, neck, back, or jaw pain • Shortness of breath • Syncope • Palpitations

17. Associated Complaints • Diaphoresis • Anxiety • Feeling of impending doom • Nausea/vomiting • Dizziness • Weakness • Fatigue

18. History of Present Illness • Chest Pain • Most common chief complaint • Use OPQRST • Use clear questions • Keep it simple

19. History of Present Illness • Dyspnea • Main symptom of heart failure • Can be caused by other medical problems • COPD • Respiratory Infection • Pulmonary Embolus • Asthma

20. History of Present Illness • Syncope • Caused by sudden decrease in oxygenated blood to the brain • Cardiac causes result from decrease in cardiac output • Most common cardiac cause is dysrhythmias • Palpitations • Circumstances • Associated Symptoms

21. Past Medical History • Is the patient taking any medications? • Is the patient being treated for any other illnesses? • Does the patient have any allergies? • Does the patient have any risk factors for heart attack? • Does the patient have implanted cardiac devices?

22. Physical Exam • Should follow the Look-Listen-Feel approach • Look • Skin color, JVD, Edema, Midsternal Scar • Listen • Lung sounds • Feel • Diaphoresis, Temperature, Pulse • Palpate thorax and abdomen • Vital Signs

23. Specific Cardiac Diseases • Angina Pectoris • Myocardial Infarction • Congestive Heart Failure • Cardiogenic Shock • Thoracic and Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms • Hypertension

24. Angina Pectoris Pathophysiology • Symptom of myocardial ischemia • “Choking pain in the chest” • Most common cause is Atherosclerosis • Caused by increased myocardial oxygen demand • Stable vs. Unstable

25. Angina Pectoris Management • Request ALS Intercept if not on scene • Position of comfort • Oxygen • Medications • Aspirin • Nitroglycerin • Prompt transport • Prompt notification of receiving facility

26. Myocardial Infarction • Caused by sudden, total blockage of coronary artery • Death of myocardial tissue • Sudden death usually because of dysrhythmias • Can lead to heart failure • Diagnosed using EKG findings, lab results

27. MI Management • Request ALS intercept if not on scene • Position of Comfort • Oxygen • Medications • Aspirin • Nitroglycerin • Prompt transport • Prompt notification of receiving facility

28. Nitroglycerin and Cardiac Compromise • Most commonly prescribed medication for cardiac patients • Derivative of explosive • Medicinal nitroglycerin dilates blood vessels • Improves circulation to the heart tissue

29. Requirements for Assisting with Nitroglycerin • Patient must have own prescription • Prescription is current and not expired • Patient has not taken medication for erectile dysfunction in the last 24 hours • Viagra, Cialis, Levitra • Note some systems have 48- or 72-hour limit • Patient has systolic BP of at least 100 mmHg • Note some systems use different BP requirements

30. General Instructions for Assisting with Nitroglycerin • Place one tablet or spray beneath tongue • Allow to dissolve completely • Instruct patient not to swallow tablets • In general, if no relief • Reassess every 5 minutes • Repeat administration to maximum of 3 doses • Follow local protocol

31. Reassess • Reassess vital signs after each dose of nitroglycerin • Ensure patient is sitting or lying down during administration • Ensure BP remains 100 mmHg systolic • Nitroglycerin may drop BP and cause lightheadedness or unresponsiveness

32. Change in BP or Mental Status • If BP 100 or significant change in pulse or responsiveness • Transport and continue with assessment and treatment en route

33. The Use of Aspirin • Beneficial for treatment of patients with cardiac event • Minimizes formation of blood clots within circulatory system • Many EMS systems adding administration of aspirin to chest pain protocols • Know your local protocols

34. Non-Cardiac Causes of Chest Pain • Cholecystitis • Hiatal Hernia • Pancreatitis • Pleural Irritation • Pneumothorax • Tumors

35. Differential Diagnosis • Provocation • Quality • Radiation

36. Congestive Heart Failure • Heart is unable to pump blood to meet metabolic needs • Responsible for approx. 10,000 hospital admissions • Most often caused by volume overload, pressure overload, loss of tissue or impaired contractility

37. Left Sided Heart Failure • Left ventricle fails to pump forward • Blood backs up into pulmonary circulation • Characterized by: • Respiratory distress • PND • Abnormal lung sounds • JVD • Chest Pain

38. Right Sided Heart Failure • Most often results for left sided failure • Can be caused by chronic hypertension, COPD, PE, and Valve Disease • Right ventricle fails as a forward pump • Results in edema in dependent parts of the body

39. CHF Management • Request ALS Intercept if not on scene • Patient positioning • High-flow oxygen • NRB • Pulse oximetry • Prompt transport

40. Summary • There are many causes of chest pain • BLS providers do have the means to treat patients with chest pain • Remember that you must try to get ALS • Follow your local protocols