Congestive Heart Failure Drugs

Question 1

Define heart failure

Answer 1

A syndrome in which the heart is unable to pump blood in quantities sufficient to meet the body’s oxygenation needs. (cadiomyopathies, volume stress, pressure stress, constrictive pericarditis, septicemia)

Question 2

Types of CHF

Answer 2

Systolic: primary lesion is dysfunction in left ventricular contractility (decreased ejection fraction)
Diastolic: left ventricular stiffness (problem w/ relaxation) and delayed filling (common in older animals)

Question 3

Contractile force depends on…

Answer 3

muscle contractility, end-diastolic pressure, [Ca2+] and [ATP]

Question 4

Signs of CHF

Answer 4

weakness, fatigue, exercise intolerance, pulmonary congestion, edema (limbs, brisket, perineum, cardiac enlargement, ventricular remodeling, myocardial ischemia, tachycardia, atrial fibrillation

Question 5

Class I CHF (description and therapy

Answer 5

• cardiac lesion, but no signs of overt failure

- decrease dietary Na+

Question 6

Class II CHF

Answer 6

• signs of CHF during exercise

- decreased dietary Na+, thiazide diuretics +/- spir

Question 7

Class III CHF

Answer 7

signs of CHF during normal activity

Question 8

Class IV CHF

Answer 8

signs of CHF even at rest