Hypertension/HF Flashcards
What are the symptoms of acute heart failure?
Sudden onset breathlessness, crackles, fatigue, oedema, cough/wheeze, pink phlegm
What are the causes of acute heart failure?
- Infection
- Allergic reaction
- PE
- Bypass surgery
- MI
- Arrhythmias
- Acute on chronic
How is acute heart failure treated?
1st - LMNOP - furosemide, morphine, nitrates, high flow oxygen, position
(NICE do not recommend nitrates but they are being increasingly used)
DONT GIVE B BLOCKERS
2nd - NIV, mechanical ventilation, inotropes, surgery for vascular disease
What do you give to patients with acute heart failure after they have stabilised?
- Beta blocker and ACEi
- Salt/fluid restriction
- DVT prophylaxis - tinzaparin
- Increase furosemide, add thiazide, monitor U&E
How is heart failure diagnosed?
Pro-BNP and cardiac abnormalities on ECHO
What are the symptoms of chronic heart failure?
Shortness of breath, wheeze, fatigue, oedema
What causes chronic heart failure?
- Cardiomyopathy
- Cor pulmonale
- Hypertension
- Diabetes
- Valvular disease
- Coronary artery disease
- Inherited conditions
- Pericarditis
How is chronic heart failure treated?
1st - ACEi/ARB and B blocker and diuretics
2nd - Spironolactone, hydralazine + nitrate
3rd - Digoxin
Which drugs give prognostic benefit?
ACEi/ARB and beta blockers, particularly to those with HF due to LVSD
Spironolactone - need to monitor U&E
Hydralazine/nitrates for those intolerant to ACEi/ARB
Which patients should be given digoxin for chronic heart failure?
Treatment resistant or AF (elderly, sedentary)
Which drugs give symptomatic benefit?
Loop diuretics - furosemide
Digoxin
What are the aims of treatment in patients with heart failure?
Symptom relief • reduce SOB, fluid retention • diuretics, ACEI • digoxin if still symptomatic on optimal dose ACEI/diuretics Survival benefit • ACEI • Beta Blocker • Spironolactone (post MI)
What comorbidities do you need to be aware of when treating HF?
BP – high or low
• If hypotensive – cant use GTN as nitrates make you hypotensive
Asthma – avoid β blockers
Renal - Toxicity of ACEi and ARB
Do you use beta blockers in acute HF?
NO!!! - If used in acute heart failure you could patient into cardiogenic shock and kill them. Need to wait until HF has stabilized.
What drugs do we use in acute HF?
Inotropes - e.g dobutamine (acute/cardiogenic shock)
Opiates - Diamorphine
Nitrates - e.g GTN
Loop diuretics - furosemide
What drugs do we use in chronic HF?
Loop diruetics - furosemide K sparing diuretics - spironolactone ACEis - lisinopril, ramipril ARBs - losartan Beta blockers - atenolol Cardiac glycosides - digoxin
What is the use of furosemide in HF?
Acutely used IV in combo with oxygen therapy, used to shift fluid (put in a catheter)
Chronic – figure out what dose ~40mg
What is the use of diarmorphine in HF?
Acute phase breathlessness
What is the use of GTN in HF?
Offload the preload of the heart (careful of hypotension)
What is the use of inotropes in HF?
Help to continue kidney perfusion, but can cause arrhtymias
What is the use of K+ sparing diuretics in HF?
Spironolactone - often used in combo with loop diuretics to fine tune treatment in chronic.
Can cause hyperkalaemia.
What is the use of ACEis in HF?
Chronic - Start with a low dose and titrate up, checking kidney function as you go. Common side effect is the dry cough.
What is the use of ARBs in HF?
Chronic - Start with a low dose and titrate up, checking kidney function as you go. Alternate if ACE cause bad side effects.
What is the use of loop diuretics in HF?
Symptomatic benefit - loss of oedema and work on the heart
What is the use of digoxin in HF?
Use in treatment resistant or AF, very narrow therapeutic range → can cause digoxin toxicity.