Cardiomyopathies Flashcards
What is the most common form of cardiomyopathy?
dilated cardiomyopathy
What happens to contraction of the heart in dilated cardiomyopathy?
Poor contraction and low ejection fraction (systolic dysfunction)–it continues to dilate to try to improve contraction and continues to get bigger (vicious cycle)
What are the most common causes of dilated cardiomyopathy?
genetic, viral, alcoholism, postpartum
What are the presenting symptoms of dilated cardiomyopathy?
CHF symptoms: poor cardiac output–weakness (poor muscle perfusion), SOB (fluid in lungs), peripheral edema, crackles, S3, JVD
What is the most common cause of right sided heart failure?
left sided heart failure
What does CXR show with dilated cardiomyopathy?
fluffy infiltrates, big heart, curly b lines (short, fat, horizontal lines in periphery which is fluid in the interstium)
What arrhythmias can result from dilated cardiomyopathy?
A fib, VT
What is the treatment of dilated cardiomyopathy?
If reversible cause, stop it (etoh). Treat CHF (diuretics, ace-i, BB, dig), dysrhythmias (anticogaulation).
What is restrictive cardiomyopathy?
Infiltrate around the heart in the pericardium or in the heart muscle that causes diastolic dysfunction (problem with filling).
What are some of the causes of restrictive cardiomyopathy?
radiation, endomyocardial fibrosis, amyloidosis
What size is the heart in restrictive cardiomyopathy?
Normal or small
What are the symptoms of restrictive?
CHF symptoms
What is wrong with the heart muscle in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy?
too thick
What area of the heart is typically hypertrophied?
septum and inferior to the aorta (left ventricle)
What causes people to go into asystole or syncopize with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy?
Exercise causes the enlarged heart muscle to contract so much that it blocks off the aortic valve and the blood can’t get out of the heart.
