Nursing the Cardiac Patient -- Contents -- Contributor Biographies -- Preface -- Acknowledgements -- Chapter 1: Acute Coronary Syndrome in Perspective -- Introduction -- The challenge of saving lives -- The scope of this book -- Chapter 2: Reducing the Risk: Primary Care Initiatives -- Introduction -- Primary care initiatives in perspective -- Identification of those "at risk" -- Rapid access chest pain clinics -- Sudden cardiac death -- Early recognition and access to emergency services -- Early CPR -- Early defibrillation -- First responders -- Summary -- Chapter 3: Assessment of the Cardiovascular System -- Introduction -- Cardiovascular assessment in perspective -- Chest pain assessment -- Electrocardiography -- Laboratory tests -- Diagnostic procedures -- Summary -- Chapter 4: Diagnosing Acute Coronary Syndrome -- Introduction -- Acute coronary syndromes in perspective -- Interpreting the 12-lead ECG -- Biochemical markers -- Risk stratification -- Imaging techniques -- Summary -- Chapter 5: Unstable Angina -- Introduction -- Unstable angina in perspective -- Treatment strategies -- Summary -- Chapter 6: Non-ST Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction -- Introduction -- Non-ST segment elevation myocardial infarction in perspective -- Causes -- Diagnosis -- Treatment of NSTEMI -- Summary -- Chapter 7: ST Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction -- Introduction -- ST segment elevation myocardial infarction in perspective -- Care priorities -- Treatment priorities -- Complications of STEMI -- Territories of STEMI : special considerations -- Special patient groups -- Continuing care -- Rehabilitation and secondary prevention -- Summary -- Chapter 8: Therapeutic Intervention in Acute Coronary Syndromes -- Introduction -- Pathophysiology of ACS -- Early identification of ACS -- Early therapeutic intervention.

Therapeutic intervention for STE-ACS and NSTE-ACS -- Primary percutaneous coronary intervention -- Facilitated percutaneous coronary intervention -- Summary -- Chapter 9: Cardiothoracic Care -- Introduction -- Preparation for surgery -- The operation -- Postoperative care -- Cardiac care after the first 24 hours -- Fast tracking -- Discharge -- Summary -- Chapter 10: Arrhythmias and their Management -- Introduction -- Electrophysiology of the heart -- The conduction system -- Manifestations of arrhythmias -- Arrhythmias -- Arrhythmia treatment -- Peri-arrest arrhythmias -- Cardiac arrest rhythms -- Summary -- Chapter 11: Emergency Cardiac Care -- Introduction -- Cardiac emergencies in perspective -- Early warning scoring systems -- Assessing the emergency cardiac patient -- Acute heart failure -- Pericarditis -- Cardiac tamponade -- Electrolyte disorders -- Summary -- Chapter 12: Long-Term Cardiac Conditions -- Introduction -- Heart failure -- Refractory angina -- Atrial fibrillation -- Summary -- Chapter 13: Cardiac Rehabilitation -- Introduction -- Cardiac rehabilitation in perspective -- Provision of cardiac rehabilitation -- Summary -- Chapter 14: Secondary Prevention Within the Community -- Introduction -- Ongoing risk factor modification -- Psychological wellbeing -- Psychosocial wellbeing -- Cardioprotective medication -- Summary -- Chapter 15: Ethical Issues in Cardiac Care -- Introduction -- Ethical theory and principles in perspective -- Ethical decision-making frameworks -- Informed consent -- DNAR -- The ethics of withdrawal of active treatment -- Patients' rights and responsibilities -- Summary -- Appendix A: Patient Transfer to Theatre/Specialist Centre -- Introduction -- Transfer in perspective -- Preparation of the patient for intrahospital or interhospital transfer -- Summary -- Appendix B: Cardiac Rehabilitation Circuit Class.

Class management -- Staffing ratios -- Other considerations -- Appendix C: Cardiac Pacemakers -- Indications and usage -- Pacemaker function -- NASPE/BPEG code -- Index.