Emergency Procedures and Complication Management Flashcards

A patient in the cath lab suddenly becomes pale, diaphoretic, and nauseous with a heart rate of 45 bpm and a blood pressure of 80/50 mmHg. What is the most likely diagnosis and initial treatment?

Answer: Vasovagal reaction; administer atropine and IV fluids

This classic triad of bradycardia, hypotension, and diaphoresis is characteristic of a vasovagal reaction. It is a neurally mediated reflex that causes a sudden drop in heart rate and blood pressure. The initial treatment is to administer intravenous atropine to block the vagal response and increase heart rate, along with a rapid fluid bolus to support blood pressure.

Which of the following is a key hemodynamic sign of cardiac tamponade?

Answer: Pulsus paradoxus (abnormally large drop in systolic BP on inspiration)

Cardiac tamponade is the compression of the heart due to fluid accumulation in the pericardial sac. This compression restricts diastolic filling, leading to equalization of diastolic pressures across all four chambers. A classic finding is the equalization of right atrial pressure, right ventricular end-diastolic pressure, and pulmonary capillary wedge pressure.

A patient who underwent a PCI via the right femoral artery 2 hours ago complains of severe, radiating right flank and back pain. They are now hypotensive and tachycardic. This presentation is most concerning for:

Answer: Retroperitoneal hemorrhage

A retroperitoneal bleed is a serious complication of femoral artery access where the puncture is above the inguinal ligament, allowing blood to track into the retroperitoneal space. The classic symptoms are ipsilateral flank or back pain, often accompanied by signs of hypovolemic shock like hypotension and tachycardia. This is a medical emergency requiring immediate diagnosis and intervention.

During a PCI procedure, the patient develops acute ST-segment elevation and chest pain, and angiography confirms abrupt vessel closure. What is the most critical immediate action?

Answer: Recross the lesion with a guidewire and perform balloon angioplasty

Abrupt vessel closure is a critical emergency during PCI, often caused by dissection or thrombosis. The immediate priority is to restore blood flow to the myocardium to prevent a large myocardial infarction. This is typically achieved by passing a wire back across the occlusion and inflating a balloon to reopen the vessel.

A patient develops urticaria, bronchospasm, and severe hypotension immediately after contrast injection. What is the first-line medication for treating this anaphylactic reaction?

Answer: Epinephrine

This is a classic presentation of anaphylaxis, a severe, life-threatening allergic reaction. Epinephrine is the first-line treatment because it is a potent vasoconstrictor and bronchodilator. It rapidly reverses hypotension, reduces airway edema, and opens the airways, making it the most critical initial intervention.

A patient on the cath lab table becomes unresponsive, and the monitor shows ventricular fibrillation (VF). What is the single most important and definitive intervention?

Answer: Performing immediate defibrillation

Ventricular fibrillation is a chaotic electrical rhythm that produces no cardiac output and is a form of cardiac arrest. The only definitive treatment is to deliver an electrical shock to the heart to terminate the arrhythmia and allow a normal rhythm to resume. Immediate defibrillation is the most critical step in the ACLS algorithm for VF and is paramount to patient survival.