Heart Failure Assessment

Question 1

What should an assessment of someone with HF include?

Answer 1

-assessment of risk factors
-documentation and history of HF symptoms
-physical examination
-lab and other diagnostic tests to get severity of disease
-determine type of cardiac dysfunction (systolic or diastolic)
-determine aetiology to see if controllable or reversible process

Question 2

What are risk factors for HF?

Answer 2

-coronary heart disease
-high BP
-valvular heart disease
-infections
-HF caused by chemo
-pregnancy
-sedentary lifestyle
-sodium and fluid
-alcohol and drug abuse

Question 3

CV assessment/

Answer 3

-visual
-chest pain
-dyspnea
-palps
-syncope
-oedema
-systemic symptoms (fatigue, fever, weight loss or gain)

Question 4

How do you assess chest pain?

Answer 4

SOCRATES

Question 5

What are some diagnostic tests for HF?

Answer 5

-routine blood tests
-blood BNP level
-X-ray chest
-ECG
-echo
-CT/ MRI

Question 6

Why is blood BNP important?

Answer 6

Releases when ventricles are stretched and having to work harder, it increases if HF develops, helps differentiate HF from other conditions

Question 7

Why is AF dangerous?

Answer 7

More likely to get blood clots

Question 8

What is the consequence of big, dilated chambers seen in echo?

Answer 8

Not contracting properly (more blood left in chamber so has to make room).

Question 9

What can be seen in echo with HF?

Answer 9

-big, dilated chambers
-rounded apex (not tapered like normal)
-blood clots

Question 10

Why is an MRI used for HF?

Answer 10

If you can’t see enough in echo, if there are more problems than just the function of the heart

Question 11

When does the patient need to be seen when their BNP is >2000?

Answer 11

Need to be seen within 2 weeks.

Question 12

When does the patient need to be seen when their BNP is 400-2000?

Answer 12

Need to be seen within 6 weeks