CARDIOVASCULAR Flashcards
Define Ischemia
The deficiency of blood supply in the tissues.
Define bradycardia
Slow heart rate
Define tachycardia
Fast heart rate
Define systole
The heart in a state of contraction - increase in pressure.
Define diastole
The heart in a state of relaxation - decrease in pressure.
What is a heart murmur?
An abnormal sound within the heart.
Define arrhythmia
Abnormal heart rhythm
What is congenital cardiac disease?
Disease present at birth (possibly hereditary).
Name two congenital cardiac diseases.
Patent Ductus Arteriosis.
Pulmonary stenosis - narrowing of the pulmonary arteries.
Aortic stenosis - narrowing of the aortic semi-lunar valve.
Mitral valve disease.
Persistent right aortic arch.
What is acquired cardiac disease?
Disease that develops over time/throughout life.
Name two acquired cardiac diseases.
Pericarditis - inflammation of the pericardium.
Endocarditis - associated with bacterial infection.
What is Mitral Valve Disease?
A malformation of the mitral valve.
Mitral valve becomes thickened which means it can’t shut properly & starts to leak (producing a murmur).
When the mitral valve starts to leak, the heart has to work harder to pump blood around the body, causing problems.
Clinical signs of Mitral Valve Disease?
Heart murmur
Coughing
Low energy
Quicker breathing
Collapse
Mitral Valve Disease is common in what breeds of dog?
Smaller breeds - Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Terriers & Schnauzers.
What is Dilated Cardiomyopathy (DCM)?
Dilation of the heart chambers. Poor systemic function. Heart failure.
Dogs - heart enlarges & there is reduced cardiac contractility, decreasing forward flow of blood; causing congestion and heart failure.
Cats - the cause may be idiopathic, or due to taurine deficiency.
Clinical signs of Dilated Cardiomyopathy?
Anorexia
Weight loss
Lethargy
Reduced exercise tolerance
Ascites
Heart murmur
Tachycardia & arrhythmias
Usually present with signs of left side heart failure.
DCM is common in what breed types?
Large dog breeds - Doberman’s, Irish wolf hounds, Great Dane’s Boxers.
What is Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy?
Thickening of the heart muscles interferes with relaxation of the heart, preventing normal filling, leading to poor diastolic function, decreases in cardiac output and heart failure.
In cats - condition is not uncommon & may be secondary to hyperthyroidism.
Clinical signs of Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy?
Most cases in cats are clinically ‘silent’, but if congestive heart failure is present, signs will include - dyspnoea, tachypnoea, tachycardia & heart murmur.
What is congestive heart failure?
When the cardiac muscle fails, the heart is unable to pump efficiently, therefore clinical signs develop.
What does congestion mean?
Refers to the pooling of blood in the vascular beds of the body tissue.
Clinical signs of congestive heart failure (CHF)?
Tachycardia
Weak pulse
Pale MM
Tachypnoea
Coughing
Exercise intolerance
Weight loss
Restlessness
Conscious collapse
Cardiogenic shock
What is right sided heart failure?
Backward heart failure.
Poor venous return to the heart.
Congestion of the liver, spleen, and intestines.
Ascites.
What is left sided heart failure?
Forward heart failure.
Decreased pumping efficiency and dysrhythmias.
Poor venous return from the lungs.
Pulmonary congestion and oedema.
Tachypnoea, coughing, cyanosis.
Name the 4 ways of diagnosing CHF.
- Auscultation
- Radiographs
- ECG
- Blood pressure
Treatment of CHF.
Can start on preventative treatment if diagnosed early - but needs close monitoring and vet checks.
A reduced calorie diet to control weigh.
Angiotensin-covering enzyme inhibitors (ACE inhibitors).
Diuretics.
What are the nursing care requirements of patients with CHF?
Provide a quiet, stress free environment.
Administer drug therapy as prescribed by the VS.
Cardiac support diet.
Monitor vital signs accurately and regularly.
What is normal haematopoiesis?
Production of red blood cells that occurs within the bone marrow.
RBC production is controlled by the hormone erythropoietin, produced by the kidney.
Additional info - takes 7 days for an RBC to develop. Lifespan of RBC is 110-120 days (in dogs) and 69-79 days (in cats).
What is haemostasis?
Two phases- primary and secondary.
Primary = vessels contract and platelets stick to the cut edges.
Secondary = formation of a blood clot.
What is anaemia?
A reduction in the circulating red blood cells, it is a clinical sign rather than a diagnosis.
Name some signs of anaemia.
Pale MM
Jaundice
Haemorrhage
Enlarged lymph nodes
Weakness
Exercise intolerance
Tachycardia and tachypnoea
What are the two types of anaemia?
Regenerative and non-regenerative.
What is regenerative anaemia?
Appropriate bone marrow response.
The bone marrow starts producing more red blood cells when there is a decreased amount of RBCs.
What is non-regenerative anaemia?
Inappropriate bone marrow response.
When the bone marrow isn’t able to produce more red blood cells that it needs.
What is immune-mediated thrombocytopenia (ITP)?
Most common acquired haemostatic disorder in dogs.
