22.4: Chapter Summary

This chapter focused on cardiac emergency and shock drugs. Cardiac emergencies can arise from problems within the heart’s electrical system or mechanical system and include AMI, unstable angina, and dysrhythmias. Both conduction problems and mechanical problems can affect cardiac output and become life-threatening. Shock, decreased tissue perfusion that can cause injury and death, is also life-threatening.

Common cardiac emergency and shock drugs were presented. Medications used include nitrates, opioid agonists, multiple types of antiarrhythmic drugs, adrenergic agonists, anticholinergics, and intravenous fluids to increase intravascular volume in a client in shock.