Essays on Amiodarone

Atrial Fibrillation

Atrial fibrillation is the most encountered cardiac rhythm disorder in clinical practice. It affects <1% of persons aged <60 years. This prevalence increases to 10% in persons aged >80 years (Amerena, Walters, Mirzaee and Kalman, 2013). Atrial fibrillation is a key differential diagnosis in patients presenting with chest pain, palpitations, shortness of breath, light-headedness, and syncope (Cruickshank, 2008). This paper will examine the differential diagnosis, pathophysiology, and paramedic implications of atrial fibrillation in relation to the case of a 43-year old male who presents with features and ECG findings of atrial fibrillation. It will first examine ...

Monomorphic Ventricular Tachycardia

Cardiac arrhythmias often require immediate medical care that may include resuscitation (Ray, 2004). The diagnosis of cardiac arrhythmias can be challenging particularly in situations whereby the patient is asymptomatic and ECG findings are normal between symptomatic episodes (Cruickshank, 2008). Distinguishing between supraventricular and ventricular tachycardia is also a challenge (Australian Resuscitation Council, 2008). Cardiac arrhythmia should be suspected in patients with a history of syncope, near syncope, palpitations, and/or chest pain (Cruickshank, 2008). This paper will justify why monomophic ventricular tachycardia is the most likely diagnosis of a male patient who collapsed abruptly and has hypotension (BP 63/38), tachycardia ( ...

Assignment 2

PART A - (Total 15 marks)

Cephalexin and Gentamicin The mechanism of action of amoxicillin is focused on the prevention of the synthesis of the bacteria’s cell wall through the binding and inhibiting of the cell wall transpeptidases (Katzung, Masters, and Trevor, 2012). Specifically, it attaches to the penicillin-binding protein 1A found in the cell wall of bacteria. Then, the agent disintegrates the lactam ring to allow the acylation of the penicillin-sensitive transpeptidase C-terminal domain. The formation of the cross-link of the linear peptidoglycan strands is prevented by the inactivation of transpeptidases. Since the third and last stage ...