CHF Management: Pharmacology and Treatment Flashcards
Relation HF and NYHA
-mortality in HF increases with worsening NYHA classification
1 rule for treatment for CHF
- Correct the correctable
- i.e. correct the underlying causes of CHF and the precipitating/exacerbating factors
Causes of CHF (7)
- CAD/MI
- hypertension
- diabetes
- valvular heart disease
- cardiomyopthy/myocarditis
- congenital heart disease
- other diseases (sarcoidosis, amyloidosis, HIV, hemochromatosis, etc)
Precipitating/exacerbating factors - two categories
Two categories
- Patient related factors
- Physician related factors
Patient related factor (precipitating/exacerbating HF) -9
1) Arrhythmias
2) Ischemia
3) Anemia
4) Viral illness
5) Fever
6) Thyroid disease
7) Salt and water intake excess
8) Noncompliance with medications
9) Alcohol
Physician related factors (precipitating/exacerbating)
- Prescription of negatively inotropic agents
- Prescription of NSAIDs
- Under-dosing of CHF medications
- Poor patient communication
Treatment goals CHF (4)
- Control symptoms
- Reduce hospitalization
- Prolong life
- Prevent disease regression
Acute heart failure -definition
Rapid onset of symptoms and signs secondary to abnormalities in cardiac function that may be life threatening and require urgent treatment
Acute heart failure clinical signs (3)
1) Respiratory distress
2) Hypertensive/hypotensive
3) Use of accessory muscles
Respiratory distress in acute heart failure signs (4)
- hypoxemia
- orthopnea
- tachypnea
- tachycardia
What does hypotensive in acute HF suggest -what condition
-cardiogenic shock (heart not able to pump blood that body needs)
Management general steps of acute CHF (1 + 5)
- Initial stabilization -ABCs
- Correct hemodynamic/intravascular volume abnormalities rapidly (with pharmacologic therapies):
a) decrease preload
b) decrease pulmonary edema
c) decrease ventricular wall stress
d) increase CO
e) support BP as necessary
Initial stabilization-specifics (4)
- Airway (+ oxygenation)
- supplemental O2 and assisted ventilation as needed (either non invasive ventilation such as CPAP or BIPAP or invasive= intubation) - Vitals, cardiac monitoring
- IV access
- Seated posture
Acute CHF pharmacological therapy - broad categories (4)
- Diuretics (loop diuretics)
- Vasodilators
- Morphine
- Inotropes
Diuretics used in acute HF
-IV lasix (is first line treatment for acute HF)
Peak diuresis in acute HF
-about 30 minutes after dose
How diuretic improve acute HF (2)
- reduction in intravascular volume –> lowered central venous and capillary wedge pressures
- venodilation effect reduces congestion prior to onset of diuresis
Vasodilators used in acute HF (3)
- nitroglycerine
- nitroprusside
- nesirtide
Use of vasodilators- in who
-in patients with normal to high BP in addition to diuretic therapy
Effect of vasodilators (2)
-rapidly reduces LV filling pressures via venodilation (decreases pre-load)
-also decrease in systemic vascular resistance–> decrease ventricular workload (afterload)
which leads to improved CO
Potentially first presentation of exacerbation of chronic CHF
-acute decompensated heart failure
Benefits of inotropes in cardioenic shock (low bp) -2 + indications for use
Help maintain systemic perfusion and preserve end organ function
-use in cases of low BP or cardiogenic shock