CHF 1 Flashcards
congestive heart failure (CHF) - physiologic definition
*the inability of the heart to maintain the circulatory demands of an organism without a rise in left ventricular filling pressure
*simply put, if you have a high filling pressure, you have heart failure
*translation: ELEVATED CARDIAC FILLING PRESSURES with normal/abnormal cardiac output and normal/abnormal LV ejection fraction
heart failure - first aid
*clinical syndrome of cardiac pump dysfunction → congestion and low perfusion
heart failure - clinical definition
*clinical syndrome that can result from any structural or functional cardiac disorder that impairs the ability of the heart to either fill with or eject blood
high-output vs. low-output CHF
*causes of low-output CHF: aortic stenosis, hypertension, myocardial infarction
*causes of high-output CHF: anemia, thyrotoxicosis (thyroid storm), AVM, pregnancy
note: the vast majority of CHF is LOW output
cardiogenic shock vs. acute heart failure
*cardiogenic shock and acute heart failure are not different entities, but rather, CARDIOGENIC SHOCK IS ACUTE HEART FAILURE WITH HYPOTENSION
*acute heart failure: increased PCWP, high SVR
*cardiogenic shock: decreased CO, increased PCWP, high SVR, HYPOTENSION
common signs of CHF
*jugular venous distention
*S3 gallop [most specific sign on physical exam]
*pulmonary edema (crackles/rales)
*leg edema
*ascites
*hepatomegaly
recall: signs are objective features of an illness, detected by a practitioner
common symptoms of CHF
*dyspnea
*dyspnea on exertion
*orthopnea
*paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea [most specific symptom]
*fatigue
*weakness
recall: symptoms are subjective features of an illness as related by a patient
signs/symptoms of left-sided heart failure
*signs: S3 gallop, pulmonary edema
*symptoms: dyspnea, orthopnea, paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea, fatigue, weakness
signs/symptoms of right-sided heart failure
*jugular venous distention
*leg edema
*ascites
*hepatomegaly
note: usually these are in addition to the s/s of left CHF (pulmonary edema, S3 gallop, dyspnea/orthopnea) b/c left CHF usually precedes right CHF
number 1 leading cause of right-sided CHF is?
LEFT-sided CHF
*meaning: right HF most often results from left HF
left-sided CHF pathogenesis: increased LV filling pressure
*increased LV end-diastolic pressure → increased left atrial pressure → increased pulmonary venous pressure → increased pulmonary capillary pressure → pulmonary edema
*increased left atrial pressure is translated back to the lungs where it produces shortness of breath (dyspnea)
*initially, it primarily affects the base of the lungs (due to gravity), but as the pressure increases, it can affect all the way to the lung apices
orthopnea in CHF
*shortness of breath when supine (when a patient lies down, venous return increases from the legs)
*increased venous return form redistribution of blood (immediate gravity effect) exacerbates pulmonary vascular congestion
*commonly associated with left-sided CHF
paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea in CHF
*breathless awakening from sleep (sensation of shortness of breath that awakens the patient; usually relieved in an upright position)
*increased venous return from redistribution of blood, reabsorption of peripheral edema, etc
*commonly associated with left-sided CHF
pulmonary edema in CHF
*increased pulmonary venous pressure → pulmonary venous distention and transudation of fluid
*presence of hemosiderin-laden macrophages (“HF cells”) in lungs
*commonly associated with left-sided CHF
congestive hepatomegaly in CHF
*increased central venous pressure → increased resistance to portal flow
*rarely, leads to “cardiac cirrhosis”
*associated with NUTMEG LIVER (mottled appearance) on gross exam
*commonly associated with right-sided CHF