Circulatory disorders Flashcards
In the healthy heart where does de-ogygenated blood enter first?
The right atrium via the cranial and caudal vena cavae
What is the name of the valve between the right atrium and the right ventricle?
Tricuspid valve
Where does blood go from the right ventricle?
to the lungs via the pulmonary arteries
Where does oxygenated blood enter the heart?
the left atrium via the pulmonary veins
What is the name of the valve between the left atrium and left ventricle?
Bicuspid or mitral valve
what is the definition of heart failure?
Circulatory failure where the heart is unable to maintain an adequate circulation for the rest of the body
What are the clinical signs of acute heart failure?
The animal presents in cardiogenic shock. Collapsed Pale MMS Slow CRT Weak femoral pulses
What would be the appropriate first aid treatment for an animal with acute heart failure?
Reduce dress levels
administer oxygen in a stress free manner
Keep as quiet as possible - cage rest or sit with them
monitor core temperature and cool/warm if necessary
What might show that first aid treatment of acute heart failure is successful?
respiration rate should drop
On an animal with acute heart failure how might the vet administer glyceryl trinitrate (GTN)?
to the inside of the ear
What would left sided heart failure lead to?
a build up of blood within the lungs - pulmonary oedema
What might the symptoms of left sided heart failure be?
Couching Dyspnoes and tachypnoea murmurs and dysrhythmias exercise intolerance and lethargy sometimes cyanosis in severe cases
What would right sided heart failure lead to?
increased blood pressure in the systemic circulation leading to fluid being forced out of the blood vessels around the body, especially in the abdomen
Ascites
What are the main symptoms of right sided heart failure?
Ascites Hepatomegaly and splenomegaly exercise intolerance fatigue and lethargy Pale mms tachycardia weak femoral pulses dyspnoea and tachypnoea cyanosis murmurs and dysrhymias
What management plan should be put in place to maintain QOL in chronic heart failure patients?
regular small amounts of exercise achieve a healthy BCS Palatable diet low in salt Healthy treats monitor electrolytes drug therapy
What type of drugs might be used in a patient with chronic heart failure?
diuretics to reduce fluid build up
cardiac drugs that reduce blood pressure and increase sodium excretion, or increase contractility
What might a vet use to diagnose heart failure?
Auscultation ECG Doppler ultrasound with colour flow right later and and DV radiographs Blood tests - biochem (urea/crea) and electrolytes
What is congenital heart failure?
a defect that the animal is born with
What is the term for heart failure that develops later in life?
acquired heart defects
What is Patent ductus arteriosus?
The connection between the systemics and pulmonary circulations does not close at birth, which leads to blood being shunted from the aorta into the pulmonary artery which then overloads the lungs
How can patent ductus arteriosus be detected?
by a loud machinery-type murmur at first vaccination
What is the treatment for patent ductus arteriosus?
surgical closure of the defect
What is the most common congenital heart defect?
Patent ductus arteriosus
What condition might be detected by a loud machinery-type heart murmur
Patent ductus arteriosus
What is the name of the heart defect that causes a link between the pulmonary and systemic circulations?
Patent ductus arteriosus
What is Aortic stenosis?
narrowing of the aorta
What can result from Aortic stenosis?
the heart muscle thickens as it has to work harder
How can aortic stenosis be detected?
audible heart murmur
What is the treatment for aortic stenosis?
symptomatic treatment - no surgery
What is Pulmonic stenosis?
narrowing of the pulmonary artery
What are the symptoms of pulmonic stenosis?
audible heart murmur
hypertrophy of the heart muscle
What is the treatment for pulmonic stenosis?
Surgical treatment available - Balloon valvuloplasy
What is Valve dysplasia?
congenitally malformed tricuspid or bicuspid valves leading to left or right sided heart failure (in some rare cases both side may be affected)
What happens in the heart of a patient with valve dysplasia?
as the heart contracts, blood regurgitates into the atria, and they enlarge
What is a septal defect?
“holes in the heart”
Connecting holes between the atria or ventricles
What animal are septal defects most common in?
Cats
What is tetralogy of Fallot?
A combination of 4 heart defects most commonly: Ventricular septal defect pulmonic stenosis compensatory right sides hypertrophy an overriding aorta
What is Persistent right aortic arch?
The aortic arch is wrapped around the oesophagus
What is another name for persistent right aortic arch?
Vascular ring anomaly
What are the symptoms of persistent right aortic arch?
Underweight pups who are very hungry but will regurgitate any solid pieces of food
How can persistent right aortic arch be diagnosed?
barium swallow radiography will highlight a structure in the oesophagus and usually a dilation just cranial to it
What is the treatment for persistent right aortic arch?
surgery to clamp and tie the aortic arch
What are the side effects of surgical correction of persistent right aortic arch?
the animal may have megaoespphagus permanently
What is mitral valve endocardiosis?
Progressive thickening of valves leads to back flow and turbulent blood flow
tricuspid valve can be affected but it is usually the mitral vale
What are the symptoms of mitral valve endocardiosis?
Exercise intolerance,
pulmonary oedema,
cough
murmurs
What animal is mitral valve endocardiosis most common in?
Dogs
Small breeds most commonly affected
Cavalier king Charles spaniel
What is endocarditis?
Inflammation of the endocardium - including the valves
What is endocarditis caused by?
bacterial infection
What are the sights of endocarditis?
Pyrexia fever shifting lameness anorexia heart murmur
How can endocarditis be diagnosed?
Blood culture
right lateral and DV Radiographs
ECG
Doppler ultrasound
What is the treatment for endocarditis?
Antibiotics
What is Myocardial disease?
Diseases of the myocardium that produces cardiac dysfunction
What species is Myocardial disease most common in?
Cats
What breeds of dog are more likely to suffer from myocardial disease?
large and giant breeds
What would be symptoms of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy be?
dyspnoea
tachypnoea
heart murmur
aortic thromboembolism
how can hypertrophic cardiomyopathy be diagnosed?
right lateral and DV X-rays ECG blood pressure measurement ultrasound of heart including flow directions clotting profile biochemistry and haematology
What is the treatment of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy?
aimed at improving cardiac relaxation and slowing the heart rate
calcium channel blockers and beta blockers
What is dilated cardiomyopathy?
All the heart chambers dilate and the wall thin and lose power to pump blood efficiently
What can dilated cardiomyopathy in cats be related to?
taurine deficiency
What breeds are more prone to dilated cardiomyopathy?
Dobermanns Great Danes Boxers Irish wolfhounds Newfoundlands
What is an arrhythmia?
A disturbance in the electrical activity of the heart
What can arrhythmias be caused by?
heart disease or systemic cause like addisons disease
What are the symptoms of arrhythmias?
collapse
weakness
exercise intolerance
What can be used to diagnose arrhythmias?
bloods especially electrolytes
ECG
radiographs
ultrasound
What is pericardial disease?
Effusion into the pericardial sac
What is the most common cause of pericardial diseasE?
heart base tumours
What are the signs of pericardial disease?
tachycardia hypovolaemic shock dyspnoea pale MMs muffled heart sounds
What is the treatment for pericardial disease?
draining provides immediate relief as long as it doesn’t bleed again
What is infectious cardia disease?
heartworm - dirofilaria immitis
What life stage of heart worm lives in the heart?
Adult
What is the latin term for heart worm?
Dirofilaria immitis
