Cardio - Cor Pulmonale, HF, Aortic Dissection, Acute and Constrictive Pericarditis Flashcards
Cor Pulmonale, HF, aortic dissection
Cor Pulmonale - what is it?
Right sided heart failure due to respiratory disease
Cor Pulmonale - what is the pathophysiology behind it?
- Increased pressure and resistance in pulmonary arteries (pulmonary HTN)
- Then RV unable to pump blood out of RV and into pulmonary arteries
- Leads to back pressure of blood eventually into RA, vena cava and systemic venous system
Cor Pulmonale - what are the respiratory causes?
COPD - MOST COMMON CF Primary Pulmonary HTN Pulmonary embolism Interstitial lung disease
Cor Pulmonale - presentation
Early cor pulmonale - asymptomatic
- Shortness of breath
- Peripheral oedema
- Increased breathlessness on exertion
- Syncope
- Chest pain
Cor Pulmonale - what are the signs to look for on examination?
Raised JVP - due to backlog of blood in the jugular veins
Hepatomegaly
Cyanosis
Hypoxia
Murmurs
Peripheral oedema
Cor Pulmonale - management
Treat symptoms and underlying cause
Long term O2 therapy
Chronic Heart Failure - what is it?
Chronic version of acute HF
Chronic Heart Failure - causes (pathophysiology)
Caused by either:
1. Impaired LV contraction (systolic HF)
- Impaired LV relaxation (diastolic HF)
Impaired LV function - results in chronic back pressure of blood trying to flow into and through Left Side of heart
Chronic Heart Failure - presentation features
Breathlessness - worse on exertion
Peripheral oedema
Orthopnoea - SOB when lying flat
Paroxysmal Nocturnal Dyspnoea
Cough - frothy white/pink sputum
Chronic Heart Failure - Diagnosis
Clinical Presentation
ECG
Echo
BNP blood test
Chronic Heart Failure - causes of HF
HTN
Valvular heart disease - commonly aortic stenosis
AF
IHD
Chronic Heart Failure - first line medical management
ABAL
A - ACE Inhibitor (Ramipril)
B - Beta Blocker (Bisoprolol)
A - Aldosterone antagonist when symptoms not controlled with A and B (Spironolactone)
L - Loop diuretics, improves symptoms (furosemide)
Chronic Heart Failure - what should HF patients be monitored for whilst on medical management
U&Es
Diuretics, ACEi, aldosterone antagonists, all cause electrolyte disturbances
Aortic Dissection - what is it
Serious cause of chest pain that radiates to the back, due to the tearing of the TUNICA INTIMA in the wall of the aorta
Aortic Dissection - pathophysiology
- Tearing of tunica intima
- High pressure blood flowing through aorta begins to tunnel between the tunica intima and tunica media
- Separates the two layers
- Blood starts to pool between two layers, increasing diameter of blood vessel
- Area where blood collects called false lumen