Cardiac disease Flashcards
Normal heart function
The amount of blood entering the heart (pre-load) should equal the amount of blood exiting the heart (after-load)
If more blood is trying to enter the heart than is leaving it, that could cause a damming effect and higher pressure “upstream”
Each contraction of the heart should result in the maximum volume of blood being pumped out. If there is insufficient blood being pumped out of the heart; this may result in lack of tissue perfusion. Lack of perfusion means tissues may not receive adequate oxygen and nutrients and removal of waste products will be impaired.
Effusion
Fluid in 3rd space
Pulmonary edema
Fluid accumulate in alveoli. Prevents oxygen uptake
Pleural effusion
- fluid around the lungs; prevents filling with air
Abdominal effusion
Fluid in the abdomen
Ascites
Clear fluid in the abdomen
Primary cardiac disease
When something goes wrong with the heart itself
Congenital or inherited, traumatic, degenerative
Secondary cardiac disease
When something goes wrong elsewhere in the body that affects the heart, or puts additional strain on the heart
Systemic disease, infection, toxicity, metabolic, secondary to lung disease
Causes of secondary heart disease
Systemic disease
Hyperthyroidism, renal disease, neoplasia, pulmonary disease
Infection
Periodontal disease, neonatal septicemia, heartworm, hardware disease
Toxicity
Digitalis, arsenic, snakebites
Metabolic
Copper and selenium deficiencies
Prognosis of cardiac disease
Depends on the cause
Rate of progression of disease is variable
Depends on the severity of disease
Prognosis decreases once c/s are present
Secondary damage to other organs/tissues
Left untreated it will eventually progress to heart failure
Top 4 cardiac diseases
Mitral valve insufficiency (dogs/horses)
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (cats)
Dilated cardiomyopathy (dogs)
Endocarditis (cattle)
Who is most susceptible to cardiac disease
Old dogs
Main coons
Cavalier king charles
Heartworm
Typical presenting complaint of cardiac disease
Syncope (fainting spells) looks similar to a seizure
Weakness
Open mouth breathing in cats
Coughing
Exercise intolerance
LA: decreased production, weight loss, fever
Animals are often asymptomatic at the time of diagnosis, or only subtle signs are present
Tachycardia
Increased HR
Bradycardia
Decreased HR
Arrhythmia
irregular heartbeat due to problems with the sinus node or conductivity
Murmurs are described by
“Whooshing” sound= turbulence
Describing murmurs
How loud?
Grades 1-6
Where are they the loudest (left or right side, same, which rib space)
Associated with systolic or diastolic
Has it changed over time
Diagnostics used for heart disease
Echocardiogram (echo)
Ultrasound of the heart- most accurate
Radiographs
Electrocardiogram (ECG=EKG)
Blood pressure measurement