Cardiac Flashcards
Systolic cardiac failure
Inability of ventricle to contract normally, resulting in decreased CO
EF
Causes of systolic failure
IHD
MI
Cardiomyopathy
Diastolic cardiac failure
Inability of ventricle to relax normally, causing increased filling pressures
EF >50%
NB Systolic and diastolic failure often co-exist
Causes of diastolic failure
Constrictive pericarditis
Tamponade
Restrictive cardiomyopathy
HTN
Symptoms of LHF
Exertional dyspnoea, othopnoea, PND Fatigue Nocturnal cough +/- pink frothy sputum Wheeze (cardiac "asthma") Nocturia Cold peripheries LOW Muscle wasting
Mechanism of nocturia in LHF
At night when patient is supine, fluid which has accumulated as peripheral oedema returns to the heart and increases nocturnal CO
Increased CO perfuses kidneys, kidneys produce more urine
Symptoms of RHF
Peripheral oedema Ascites Nausea Anorexia Facial engorgement Pulsation in neck and face (if TR) Epistaxis
Causes of RHF
LHF
Pulmonary stenosis
Cor pulmonale (lung disease)
Low-output cardiac failure
CO decreased, fails to increase with exertion
Causes of low-output cardiac failure
Pump failure: systolic/diastolic HF, decreased HR (B-blockers, heart block, post MI), negatively inotropic drugs (most anti-arrhythmics)
Excessive preload: MR, fluid overload (more common if simultaneous compromise of cardiac function or elderly)
Chronic excessive afterload: AS, HTN
High-output cardiac failure
Output normal or increased in face of increased needs (rare)
Occurs with normal heart, accelerated if heart disease
Causes of high-output cardiac failure
Anaemia Pregnancy Hyperthyroidism Paget's disease AV malformation Beri beri
Framingham criteria for CCF
At least 2 major or 1 major + 1 minor
Major: PND, creps, APO, S2 gallop, cardiomegaly, neck vein distention, increased CVP, hepatojugular reflex, weight loss >4.5kg in 5 days in response to treatment
Minor: bilateral ankle oedema, nocturnal cough, dyspnoea on ordinary exertion, hepatomegaly, tachycardia, pleural effusion, decrease in VC by 1/3 of max recorded
CCF Ix
FBE UEC ECG, BNP (if normal, unlikely HF; if positive, echo required) CXR: ABCDE Echo: cause, assess for LV dysfunction
“ABCDE” HF CXR findings
Alevolar oedema ("bat wings")
Kerley B lines (interstitial oedema)
Cardiomegaly
Dilated prominent upper lobe vessels
Effusion (pleural)Mx of chronic HF
Lifestyle: smoking cessation, salt restriction, optimise weight, nutrition
Treat cause
Treat exacerbating factors (anaemia, thyroid disease, infection, HTN)
Avoid exacerbating factors (NSAIDs cause fluid retention, verapamil is a negative inotrope)
Drugs for chronic HF
Diuretics: reduce mortality, give loop diuretic (consider K+-sparing diuretic if low K+, predisposition to arrhythmia, taking digoxin, pre-existing K+-losing conditions), monitor UEC
ACEIs: improves survival, substitute ARB if cough
B-blockers: reduce mortality, initiate AFTER diuretics and ACEIs, use with caution
Spironolactone: use in those still symptomatic despite optimal therapy as above
Digoxin: patients with LV systolic dysfunction and who have signs and symptoms despite standard therapy, or in patients with AF, monitor UEC and digoxin levels
Vasodilators: combination of hydralazine and isosorbide dinitrate should be used IF intolerant of ACEIs and ARBs
