Heart Failure

Question 1

Description:

Answer 1

2 types:
Systolic failure - Heart cannot pump blood hard enough, therefore lower cardiac output
Diastolic failure - Not enough blood fills into the ventricles

Question 2

Aetiology/risk factors:

Answer 2

• Smoking
• Hypertension
• Diabetes
• Valvular heart disease (e.g aortic stenosis)
• Congenital heart defects

Question 3

Symptoms:

Answer 3

• Dyspnoea
• Fatigue
• Oedema
• Syncope
• Reduced exercise tolerance

Question 4

Signs:

Answer 4

• 3rd heart sound
• Displaced/abnormal apex beat
• Tachycardia
• Oedema
• Raised JVP
• Chest crepitations/pleural effusions

Question 5

Investigations:

Answer 5

• ECG
• B - natriuretic peptide
• Echocardiogram
• Bloods (FBC and U&E)
• Chest X-ray (look for cardiomegaly, oedema and pleural effusion)

Question 6

Treatment:

Answer 6

• Diuretics
• ACE inhibitors
• Beta blockers
• Angiotensin receptor blocker
• Digoxin
• Warfarin