Condition Lookup
Category:
Cardiac Emergencies
Number of Conditions: 4
Atrial Fibrillation with Rapid Ventricular Response (AFib with RVR)
Specialty: Emergency and Urgent Care
Category: Cardiac Emergencies
Sub-category: Arrhythmias
Symptoms:
palpitations; shortness of breath; chest discomfort; dizziness; fatigue
Root Cause:
Electrical impulses in the atria are disorganized and rapid, leading to ineffective atrial contractions. This rapid rate can cause the ventricles to beat too fast, impairing cardiac output.
How it's Diagnosed: videos
Electrocardiogram (ECG), physical examination, vital signs, blood tests (electrolytes, thyroid function), echocardiogram.
Treatment:
Rate control (e.g., beta-blockers, calcium channel blockers), rhythm control (e.g., cardioversion or antiarrhythmics), anticoagulation to prevent stroke.
Medications:
Beta-blockers (e.g., metoprolol ) to slow the heart rate, calcium channel blockers (e.g., diltiazem or verapamil ) for rate control, and anticoagulants (e.g., warfarin , rivaroxaban ) to reduce the risk of stroke. Antiarrhythmics (e.g., amiodarone ) may be used for rhythm control.
Prevalence:
How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Affects approximately 2% of the global population; more common in older adults and those with heart disease.
Risk Factors:
Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Hypertension, heart failure, coronary artery disease, valvular heart disease, hyperthyroidism, alcohol use, obesity.
Prognosis:
The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
With proper rate/rhythm control and anticoagulation, most patients have a good prognosis. Untreated, it may lead to heart failure or stroke.
Complications:
Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Heart failure, thromboembolism (e.g., stroke), tachycardia-induced cardiomyopathy.
Bradycardia (e.g., Heart Block)
Specialty: Emergency and Urgent Care
Category: Cardiac Emergencies
Sub-category: Arrhythmias
Symptoms:
fatigue; dizziness; lightheadedness; syncope; shortness of breath; chest discomfort
Root Cause:
Impaired electrical conduction through the heart, commonly at the sinoatrial node, atrioventricular node, or bundle branches, leading to a slow heart rate and reduced cardiac output.
How it's Diagnosed: videos
ECG, Holter monitoring, electrophysiology studies, blood tests (to evaluate reversible causes such as electrolyte imbalances or hypothyroidism).
Treatment:
Reversible causes are addressed first (e.g., electrolyte correction, medication adjustments). Pacemaker placement may be required in symptomatic cases or high-grade heart block.
Medications:
Atropine (anticholinergic to increase heart rate in emergencies), dopamine or epinephrine (vasopressors for hemodynamic support).
Prevalence:
How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Common in older adults or individuals with underlying heart disease; can occur in healthy individuals due to athletic conditioning.
Risk Factors:
Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Aging, ischemic heart disease, cardiomyopathy, prior cardiac surgery, electrolyte disturbances, certain medications (e.g., beta-blockers, calcium channel blockers).
Prognosis:
The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Good with appropriate treatment; untreated severe bradycardia can lead to syncope, heart failure, or sudden cardiac arrest.
Complications:
Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Syncope, heart failure, sudden cardiac arrest in untreated cases.
Acute decompensated heart failure
Specialty: Emergency and Urgent Care
Category: Cardiac Emergencies
Sub-category: Heart Failure
Symptoms:
shortness of breath (dyspnea); fatigue; edema (swelling in legs or abdomen); rapid weight gain; orthopnea (difficulty breathing while lying down); wheezing or coughing with frothy sputum; reduced ability to exercise
Root Cause:
Worsening of chronic heart failure leading to fluid buildup in the lungs and body due to the heart's inability to pump effectively.
How it's Diagnosed: videos
Diagnosed through clinical symptoms (e.g., dyspnea, edema), chest X-ray, elevated natriuretic peptides (BNP/NT-proBNP), and echocardiography.
Treatment:
Treated with diuretics (e.g., furosemide), vasodilators (e.g., nitroglycerin), inotropes for severe cases, and addressing the underlying cause.
Medications:
Intravenous diuretics like furosemide (loop diuretics), vasodilators like nitroglycerin or nitroprusside (nitrates), inotropes such as dobutamine or milrinone (positive inotropic agents).
Prevalence:
How common the health condition is within a specific population.
A common condition seen in emergency settings, affecting millions worldwide, especially in older adults with chronic heart disease.
Risk Factors:
Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Chronic heart failure, coronary artery disease, hypertension, arrhythmias, diabetes, obesity, and high-sodium diets.
Prognosis:
The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
With prompt treatment, symptoms can be managed, but long-term outcomes depend on the underlying heart condition; recurrent episodes are common.
Complications:
Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Pulmonary edema, cardiogenic shock, organ failure (kidneys or liver), arrhythmias, and increased mortality risk.
Hypertensive Emergencies
Specialty: Emergency and Urgent Care
Category: Cardiac Emergencies
Sub-category: Hypertension-related Conditions
Symptoms:
severe headache; chest pain; shortness of breath; blurred vision; confusion; nausea or vomiting; seizures
Root Cause:
Critically elevated blood pressure (typically >180/120 mmHg) causing acute end-organ damage (e.g., heart, brain, kidneys, or eyes).
How it's Diagnosed: videos
Blood pressure measurement, clinical signs of end-organ damage, lab tests (renal function, electrolytes), and imaging (e.g., CT for stroke, ECG for cardiac involvement).
Treatment:
Immediate blood pressure reduction using intravenous antihypertensives and addressing the specific end-organ damage.
Medications:
IV antihypertensives like nitroprusside (vasodilator), labetalol (beta-blocker), nicardipine (calcium channel blocker), or hydralazine . Oral antihypertensives are introduced later.
Prevalence:
How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Occurs in about 1-2% of patients with chronic hypertension.
Risk Factors:
Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Poorly controlled hypertension, noncompliance with antihypertensive medications, kidney disease, and pregnancy (e.g., eclampsia).
Prognosis:
The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Depends on promptness of treatment; delayed care can result in severe complications.
Complications:
Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Stroke, myocardial infarction, aortic dissection, acute kidney injury, and retinal damage.