heart failure

Question 1

what happens if the pump fails?

Answer 1

oxygenation of tissues will not take place

Question 2

what is high output failure?

Answer 2

demands of the system have increased beyond the capacity of the pump
mismatch of requirements of tissues and ability of pump to deliver

Question 3

why does anaemia cause high output failure?

Answer 3

O2 carrying capacity decreased, more vol needed to deliver same amount of O2, heart not capable

Question 4

what is thyrotoxicosis?

Answer 4

higher activity of thyroid

controls tissues

Question 5

what is low output failure?

Answer 5

pump is failing and not strong enough to force liquid around body
more common
inadequate O2 to tissues

Question 6

what can cause low output failure?

Answer 6

cardiac defect eg MI, valve disease

Question 7

what is left heart failure?

Answer 7

does most work so highest stress

-failure most common

Question 8

what is congestive heart failure?

Answer 8

both sides
left often leads to right
-puts stress on right-cant cope

Question 9

how is heart failure treated?

Answer 9

first treat any underlying cause
-hypertension
-valve disease
-heart arrhythmias
eg atrial fibrillation
-anaemia
-thyroid disease

Question 10

what is the drug therapy in chronic heart failure?

Answer 10

diuretics - increase salt + water loss
ace inhibitor - reduce salt/water retention
nitrites -reduce venous filling pressure
inotropes
-digoxin
-problem w/ conduction of electrical impulses, improves heart efficiency and controls conduction
stop negative inotropes- b blockers

Question 11

what is emergency heart failure tx?

Answer 11

high dose diuretic to remove fluid
oxygen
morphine
furosemide

Question 12

what are the signs & symptoms of heart failure?

Answer 12

left- lung/systolic effects
-dyspnoea
-tachycardia
-low BP
-low vol pulse
right - venous pressure elevated
-swollen ankles,
-ascites
-raised JVP
-tender enlarged liver
-poor GI absorption

Question 13

what is pitting oesema?

Answer 13

fluid accumulation in superficial tissues
-can be squeezed out of the way by pressure
higher pitting is found= worse heart failure

Question 14

what is the aetiology of low output failure?

Answer 14

heart muscle disease
-MI, myocarditis
-diabetes, obesity
pressure overload
-hypertension
-aortic stenosis
vol. overload
-mitral/aortic incompetence
arrythmias
-atrial fibrillation
-heart block
drugs
-b blockers
-corticosteroids
anticancer drugs