Heart failure Flashcards

1
Q

What is heart failure?

A

The inability to deliver oxygenated blood to tissues at a satisfactory rate for the tissue’s metabolic requirements.
A syndrome, not a diagnosis

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What is a syndrome?

A

A group of symptoms which consistently occur together or a condition that is characterised by a set of associated symptoms

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

What causes heart failure?

A

IHD (most common)
Cardiomyopathy
Valvular disease
Car pulmonale
Conditions increasing cardiac work (obesity, pregnancy, hypertension, hyperthyroidism, arrhythmias)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What is car pulmonale simply?

A

Right heart failure due to disease of lungs and/or pulmonary vessels

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

What are risk factors for heart failure?

A

Age 65+
Smoking
Obesity
Previous MI
Male

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

In a healthy heart, an increased preload means an increased afterload meaning increased _____ _____ due to the Frank Starling law

A

cardiac output

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

In failing hearts what happens to the cardiac output?

A

Decreases, dysfunctional Frank Starling law

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

What is the initial compensatory mechanism with heart failure?

A

RAAS and sympathetic nervous system activation to increase blood pressure

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Soon, the compensatory mechanism to heart failure stops working and heart undergoes cardiac r______ which decreases CO

A

remodelling

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

In heart failure, the RAAS and SNS will exacerbate f____ o_____

A

fluid overload

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

What is it called when the heart failure affects both the left and right circuits?

A

Congestive heart failure

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

What is the normal ejection fraction?

A

50-70%

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

What kind of heart failure is it if the ejection fraction is over 50%?

A

Diastolic failure
Filling issues such as hypertrophic cardiomyopathy or aortic stenosis causing LVH

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

What kind of heart failure is it if the ejection fraction is lower than 40%?

A

Systolic failure
Pump fails due to ischaemic tissue in IHD

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

Left side heart failure results in p_____ v____ backlog and pulmonary o_____

A

pulmonary vessel
oedema

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Right side heart failure results in s__ v____ backlog and p_____ odema

A

systemic vessel
peripheral

17
Q

What are 3 cardinal non-specific signs of heart failure?

A

SOBASFAT

SOB
Ankle swelling
Fatigue

18
Q

What other symptoms alongside SOB, ankle swelling and fatigue show in heart failure?

A

Orthopnoea (worse lying flat)
Oedema
3rd and 4th heart sounds
Raised JVP
Bibasal crackles (pulmonary oedema)
Hypotension
Tachycardia

19
Q

What describes Class 1 of heart failure according to the NY heart association?

A

No limit on physical activity

20
Q

What describes Class 2 of heart failure according to the NY heart association?

A

Slight limit on moderate activity

21
Q

What describes Class 3 of heart failure according to the NY heart association?

A

Marked limit in moderate and gentle activity

22
Q

What describes Class 4 of heart failure according to the NY heart association?

A

Symptoms even at rest

23
Q

How is heart failure diagnosed?

A

Bloods:
Raised BNP levels (B-type natriuretic peptide)

Abnormal ECG, evidence of LVH

Chest XR:
Alveolar oedema, Kerley B lines, cardiomegaly, dilated upper lobe vessels, pleural effusion

Echo: assess heart chamber dimensions

24
Q

What is an extremely high level of BNP?

A

Over 400 pg/ml

25
Q

When is BNP released?

A

Released by stressed ventricle in response to increased mechanical stress

26
Q

True or false: the more severe the heart failure, the higher the level of BNP?

A

True

27
Q

What are some lifestyle changes for heart failure?

A

Lower BMI
Exercise
Stop smoking
Drink less alcohol

28
Q

How is heart failure managed pharmacologically?

A

ABAL

ACE-i and B-blocker for all patients

Then spironolactone (aldosterone antagonist) and furosemide (loop diuretic)

29
Q

What can improve A-V co-ordination?

A

Cardiac resynchronisation therapy

30
Q

What surgical options are there for heart failure?

A

Revascularisation
Valve surgery
Heart transplant