Heart Failure Flashcards
what is heart failure?
the state in which the heart is unable to pump blood at a rate commensurate with the requirements of the tissues or can only do so at high pressures
describe impairment of left ventricular filling
in diastole, the left ventricle walls relax allowing for filling of the cavity
without proper LV relaxation, the volume of blood filling the cavity is reduced thus reducing the stroke volume, the volume of blood ejected with each contraction
describe impairment of ejection of blood
due to LV wall damage, the LV may have reduced ability to pump or eject blood
what are the causes of HF?
coronary heart disease hypertension diabetes dilated cardiomyopathy valve disease tachycardic arrhythmias HEFpEF
what are the usual symptoms of HF?
SoB difficulty breathing at night reduced exercise tolerance fatigue tiredness ankle swelling
what can an ECG find in HF?
arrythmias
past MI
LVH
what can a chest x ray find in HF?
size and shape of the cardiac silhouette
evidence of fluid accumulation in the lungs
what is HFrEF?
heart failure with an EF <40%
what is HFpEF?
heart failure with a normal EF (>50%)
what is ANP?
an atrial hormone
what is BNP?
a ventricular hormone
what does a high BNP indicate?
heart failure so patients are referred for an echo
what drugs are used to prolong survival?
ACEi B blockers spironolactone vasodilators ivabradine
what drugs are used to improve symptoms?
digoxin
frusemide
what is cardiac resynchronisation therapy?
pacing the LV from the left lateral wall
