Heart failure

Question 1

What are the six main principles to a broken heart?

Answer 1

• pumping malfunction
• obstruction of flow
• regurgitation flow (valve lesions)
• shunted flow (congenital)
• disorder of cardiac conduction (blocked pathways)
• ruptured flow (gunshot wound to thoracic aorta)

Question 2

What is compensated heart failure?

Answer 2

if dilated ventricle is able to maintain cardiac output the patient is said to have compensated heart failure

Question 3

what is decompensated heart failure?

Answer 3

increase wall tension and amplify oxygen requirements of an already compromised myocardium-with time the failing muscle is no longer able to propel sufficient blood to need the needs of the body

Question 4

What are the 3 homeostatic neurohormonal mechanisms that act to compensate for reduced myocardial contractility?

Answer 4

• the release of the neurotransmitter norepinephrine
• activation of RAAS
• release of natriuretic peptide

Question 5

What are the most common causes of left sided heart failure?

Answer 5

• systemic hypertension
• mitral/aortic valve disease
• primary disease of myocardium

Question 6

What are the clinical features of heart failure?

Answer 6

dyspnea 
cough
nocturnal 
cardiomegaly 
tachycardia 
third heart sound
mitral regurgitation and systolic murmur
atrial fibrillation -irregularly irregular 
prerenal azotemia 
hypoxic encephalopathy

Question 7

What is right sided heart failure?

Answer 7

. Right-sided or right ventricular (RV) heart failure usually occurs as a result of left-sided failure. … When the right side loses pumping power, blood backs up in the body’s veins.

Question 8

name reasons for right sided heart failure?

Answer 8

pulmonary hypertension
cor pulmonale
tricuspid valve disease
congenital heart disease

Question 9

symptoms of right sided heart failure?

Answer 9

hepatic and splenic enlargement, peripheral edema, pleural effusion and ascites

Question 10

can patients become cyanotic and alkalotic from decreased tissue perfusion?

Answer 10

false? cyanotic and acidotic as a consequence of decreased tissue perfusion resulting from both diminished forward flow and increasing retrograde congestion