Diseases Of The Heart Flashcards
1
Q
What is left ventricular heart failure?
A
Left ventricle loses ability to contract normally - can’t pump with enough force to push enough blood into circulation.
2
Q
What causes LVF?
A
- Myocardial infarction
- Hypertrophic or dilated cardiomyopathy
- Hypertension
- Mitral stenosis or aortic insufficiency
- Arrhythmias
3
Q
What is mitral stenosis?
A
- Narrowing of mitral valve
- Restricts blood flow from left atrium to left ventricle
- Decreased volume of blood pumped into systemic circulation.
4
Q
What is aortic insufficiency?
A
- Leaking aortic valve
- Blood flow from aorta to left ventricle
5
Q
Why is LVF worse when lying down?
A
- Redistribution of blood from lower extremities to lungs - additional volume cannot be pumped out by LV.
- May also be reabsorption of oedema fluid from other parts of the body.
6
Q
What happens to plasma brain natriuretic peptide in heart failure?
A
- BNP = biologically active peptide with vasodilator and natriuretic properties. Cleaved from pro-BNP released from cardiac ventricles in response to myocyte stretching.
- BNP levels increase markedly in LVF and level in heart failure correlates with symptom severity - important clinical marker for diagnosis of heart failure in patients with unexplained dyspnoea.
7
Q
What are the symptoms of LVF?
A
- Tachycardia
- Cyanosis
- Fatigue
- Confusion
- Restlessness
- Elevated pulmonary wedge pressure
- Exertional dyspnea
- Orthopnea
- Paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea
- Pulmonary congestion
- cough
- crackles
- wheezes
- blood-tinged sputum
- tachypnea
8
Q
What is tachypnea?
A
Increase in respiratory rate above normal.
9
Q
What is dyspnea?
A
Subjective sensation of difficult/uncomfortable breathing.
10
Q
What is orthopnea?
A
Sensation of breathlessness in the recumbent position.
11
Q
What is paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea?
A
Sensation of breathlessness that awakens the patient, usually after 1 or 2 hrs sleep.
