Heart Failure Flashcards
Congestion
A relative excess of blood in the vessels of a tissue/organ
Congestive heart failure pathophysiology
Heart is unable to pump sufficient blood from the ventricles
↓ cardiac output
activates renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system
↑ Na+ and H2O retention
↑ amount of fluid in body = fluid overload in veins
Causes of vascular congestion
DVT,
Hepatic cirrhosis,
Congestive cardiac failure,
Exudate
Due to increased vascular permeability
(part of the inflammatory process),
Higher protein/albumin and cell content
Transudate
Due to altered haemodynamic forces acting across the capillary wall. (e.g. cardiac failure)
Low protein/albumin and cell content
Starling forces in capillaries
HYDROSTATIC PRESSURE: forces fluid out of the capillary (higher at the arterial side - filtration)
ONCOTIC PRESSURE: forces fluid into the capillaries (higher at the venous side - reabsorption)
Factors affecting net flux and filtration of fluid in the capillaries
Hydrostatic pressure
Oncotic pressure
Permeability and area of endothelium
*Disturbance of normal components = oedema
oedema
accumulation of abnormal amounts of fluid in the extravascular compartment (tissues and body cavities)
Disturbances in starling forces leading to oedema
LVF = ↑ left atrial pressure = ↑ pulmonary vascular pressure = ↑ hydrostatic pressure = ↑ filtration = pulmonary oedema
RVF = blood retained in systemic veins = ↑ hydrostatic pressure in systemic capillaries = ↑ filtration = peripheral oedema
Lymphatic obstruction = ↓ lymph drainage = ↑ vascular fluid volume = ↑ hydrostatic pressure = lymphoedema
Abnormal renal function = NaCl and H2O retention = ↑ vascular fluid volume = ↑ hydrostatic pressure = oedema
Hypoalbuminaemia = ↓ oncotic pressure = ↑ filtration = peripheral oedema
Permeability oedema
Damage to endothelial lining = fluid (+ proteins etc.) leak out = oedema
e.g. acute inflammation, burns
Aetiology of heart failure
Any structural heart disease:
*LV systolic dysfunction* Valvular heart disease Pericardial constriction/effusion LV diastolic dysfunction Cardiac arrhythmias Myocardial ischaemia/infarction Restrictive cardiomyopathy RV failure
Causes of left ventricular systolic dysfunction
Myocardial ischaemia/infarction
Severe aortic valve disease
Severe mitral regurgitation
Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM)
Inherited Toxins Infective Systemic disease Muscular dystrophies Hypertension
Epidemiology of heart failure
Affects 1-2% UK population increasing in prevalence due to: -aging population -hypertension -CHD -diabetes -obesity
Prognosis for heart failure
Worsens with increasing NYHA class (I - IV)
average = 30-40% mortality at 1 year
Symptoms of heart failure
Dyspnoea
Fatigue
Oedema
Reduced exercise capacity