HEART FAILURE Flashcards
What is heart failure?
Heart failure is the inability of the heart to pump sufficient blood to meet the body’s metabolic needs.
What is ejection fraction?
Ejection fraction is the percentage of blood the left ventricle ejects when it contracts.
What is the normal ejection fraction for a healthy heart?
A healthy heart ejects 55% or more of the blood that fills the left ventricle during diastole.
How is ejection fraction measured?
The heart’s ejection fraction is measured using an echocardiogram or multigated acquisition scan (MUGA).
What does congestive heart failure (CHF) describe?
CHF describes the accumulation of blood and fluid in organs and tissues from impaired circulation.
How can heart failure be classified?
Heart failure can be classified as acute or chronic, and by location: right-sided or left-sided.
What is the New York Heart Association classification for heart failure?
The classification includes four classes based on activity limitations: Class I (no symptoms), Class II (mild symptoms), Class III (marked limitation), Class IV (severe limitations).
What is acute heart failure?
Acute heart failure is a sudden change in the heart’s ability to contract, potentially causing life-threatening symptoms.
What is chronic heart failure?
Chronic heart failure occurs when the heart’s ability to pump effectively is gradually compromised.
What is left-sided heart failure?
Left-sided heart failure results from conditions that impair the left ventricle’s ability to eject blood into the aorta.
What is right-sided heart failure?
Right-sided heart failure occurs when the right ventricle fails to eject blood into the pulmonary artery, causing congestion in the venous vascular system.
What are the primary causes of heart failure?
Primary causes include myocardial infarction (MI) and conditions that impair the heart muscle’s ability to contract.
What happens during left-sided heart failure?
Blood becomes congested in the left ventricle, left atrium, and pulmonary vasculature, leading to impaired gas exchange and hypoxia.
What are common causes of chronic heart failure?
Common causes include hypertension, tachydysrhythmias, valvular disease, cardiomyopathy, and renal failure.
What is cor pulmonale?
Cor pulmonale is a condition where the heart is affected secondarily by lung damage, leading to right-sided heart failure.