Introduction

Question 1

What is afterload?

Answer 1

The pressure the heart pumps against

Question 2

Afterload increases with increased vascular resistance. How does vascular resistance relate to vessel diameter?

Answer 2

Increased vessel diameter
Increased resistance
Increased afterload

Question 3

What type of drug is atropine and what does it do?

Answer 3

Anti-cholinergic
Positive inotrope (contractility) and dromotrope (increased AV node conduction)
Used for bradyarrhythmias

Question 4

What is cardiac tamponade? What type of heart failure is it associated with?

Answer 4

Fluid in the pericardium causing pressure on heart chambers

Right sided congestive heart failure

Question 5

What are the 4 treatments for CHF in order of importance?

Answer 5

Loop diuretic - furosemide/torasemide
Pimobendan (PDE III inhibitor)
ACE inhibitor - benazepril
Spironolactone

Question 6

What type of drug is digoxin? What is it used for?

Answer 6

Negative chronotrope (class V)
Weak positive inotrope
Used for tachyarrhythmias

Question 7

What is difference between furosemide and spironolactone in terms of effusions?

Answer 7

Furosemide better for pulmonary oedema

Spironolactone better for pleural and abdominal effusions

Question 8

What is forwards heart failure?

Answer 8

Systolic failure

Question 9

What is backwards heart failure?

Answer 9

Congestive heart failure

Inability to cope with preload

Question 10

What are the two types of hypertrophy? What causes them and how do they affect the myocardium and heart size?

Answer 10

Concentric - pressure overload, myocardial hypertrophy

Eccentric - volume overload, increased chamber size

Question 11

What are the 5 classes of negative chronotropes?

Answer 11

Class I - block sodium (quinidine, lidocaine)
Class II - Beta blockers (atenolol)
Class III - block potassium channels (sotalol)
Class IV - block calcium channels (diltiazem, amlodipine - used for high BP)
Class V - miscellaneous, digoxin

Question 12

What type of drug is pimobendan and what effects does it have on the heart and blood vessels?

Answer 12

PDE III inhibitor
Positive inotrope
Vasodilator

Question 13

What is pulsus paradoxus?

Answer 13

Dramatic drop in stroke volume and blood pressure during inspiration
(Drop >10mmHg)
Seen with cardiac tamponade and respiratory conditions

Question 14

What type of drug is terbutaline? What does it do?

Answer 14

Beta 2 agonist
Positive chronotrope and dromtrope
Used for bradyarrhythmias

Question 15

What drugs can be used to treat bradyarrhythmias?

Answer 15

Atropine
Glycopyrrlate
Terbutaline

Question 16

What should the ratio of left atrium to aorta be?

Answer 16

<1.5

Question 17

Which opioid should you sedate a dyspneic cat with?

Answer 17

Butorphanol