Heart Failure

Question 1

What is heart failure?

Answer 1

Cardiac output is inadequate for the body’s requirements

Question 2

What are the key classifications of heart failure? Define them.

Answer 2

• Systolic failure - inability of the ventricle to contract normally, resulting in reduced cardiac output. Ejection fraction is <40%
• Diastolic failure - inablity of the ventricle to relax and fill normally, causing increased filling pressures. Typically EF is >50%. This is termed HFpEF

Question 3

What are causes of these types of HF?

1. Systolic failure
2. Diastolic failure
3. Left venricular failure
4. Right ventricular failure
5. Acute heart failure
6. Low-output heart failure
7. High output heart failure

Answer 3

1. Systolic failure - IHD, MI Cardiomyopathy