Complications of Heart Failure Flashcards
What are the complications of heart failure in dogs?
Ruptured chordae tendinae – acute deterioration
Intractable cough
Pulmonary Hypertension
Pericardial effusion due to left atrial tear
Tussive syncope
Gross cardiomegaly
Presentation of ruptured chordae tendinae
Severe sudden LCHF - Acute
Severe dyspnoea
Cyanotic
Treatment for ruptured chordae tendinae
Increase dose / frequency of frusemide
Increase dose / frequency of ACE inhibitor
Increase dose of pimobendan
Oxygen supplementation
Cage rest
Avoid stress
Causes of cough
Unstable LCHF
Enlarged LA (compresses trachea)
Bronchomalacia
Co-exisiting airway disease
NOT IN CATS WITH HEART FAILURE
Treatment for cough
antitussives as last resort after further investigations
Causes of pulmonary hypertension
Alveolar hypoxia with pulmonary vasoconstriction / remodelling
○ Severe respiratory disease
▪ IPF
▪Neoplasia
Pulmonary vascular obstructive disease
○ Pulmonary thromboembolism
○ Heart worm disease
Pulmonary over circulation
○ Large congenital shunts
High pulmonary venous pressure
○ Left sided heart failure of various causes CAN CAUSE PH
Idiopathic
Consequences of left atrial tear
Acute bleed into pericardium (effusion)
Acute tamponade (R sided failure)
LEAVE IT ALONE
What is Acute tamponade
Intrapericardial pressure equilibrates with the right atrial and right ventricular filling pressures
* Atria can’t fill properly
* Systemic venous hypertension
* Pleural effusion/ascites
Right sided heart failure
Consequence of cardiomegaly
Takes up too much space in thorax
Restricts respiratory function
What are the complications of heart failure in cats?
Pleural effusion
Refractory heart failure
Thromboembolic disease
Sudden death
When do cats get pleural effusion
Right or left sided failure
Fluid goes everywhere in cats
Treatment for Thromboembolic disease
Analgesia - opiates
Blood thinner
* Aspirin
* Clopidogrel
Furosemide for CHF
Poor prognosis - likely reoccurs
