Acute Left Ventricular Failure Flashcards
Process of acute LVF
Blood is unable to move through left side of heart and out into the body. This causes backlog of blood that increases amount stuck in the LA, pulmonary veins and lungs.
Why does pulmonary oedema occur
Vessels are engorged in blood due to increased volume and pressure, they leak fluid which is unable to be reabsorbed from surrounding tissues
Triggers of acute LVF
Iatrogenic - IV fluids
Sepsis
MI
arrhythmias
Presentation of acute LVF
Rapid onset breathlessness, exaccerbated by lying flat and improves on sitting up.
What type of resp failure does LVF cause
Type 1 - low O2 without increase in CO2
Symptoms of LVF
Shortness of breath, looking and feeling unwell, cough
Examination findings of LVF
Increase in resp rate, reduced O2 saturdations, tachycardia, 3rd heart sound, bilateral basal crackles, hypotension in severe cases
Signs and symptoms relating to underlying cause
Chest pain - ACS
Fever - sepsis
Palpitations - arrhythmias
Signs of right sided heart failure
Raised JVP, peripheral oedema
Investigations into suspected LVF
ECG, ABG, CXR, Bloods - BNP, troponin, infection
ECHO
Causes of raised BNP
Tachycardia, sepsis, PE, renal impairment, COPD
Chest XR findings in LVF
Cardiomegaly, upper lobe venous diversion, bilateral pleural effusions, fluid in interlobar fissures, fluid in septal lines (kerley lines)
Management in LVF
Stop IV fluids
Sit up
Oxygen
Diuretics
Monitor fluid balance
