Management of Heart Failure Flashcards
What assessments are undertaken for someone with HF?
NT-proBNP blood test - cardiac marker for HF
Troponin blood test - test for MI
ECG
Echo
What will an ECG of someone with HF either show?
Left / right ventricular hypertrophy
Arrhytmias
Bundle branch block
Ischemia
MI
Tachycardia / bradycardia
QRS complex and duration
Left atrial enlargement
What are the aims of HF management?
Provide symptom relief
Improve prognosis for the patient
Improve exercise tolerance
Reduce the incidence of acute exacerbation
What is the management process for someone with HF?
RAMPS
Refer to cardiology
Advise on condition
Medical treatment
Procedural / surgical intervention if required
Specialist MDT
What is the medical treatment for HF?
ACE inhibitors
Beta blockers
Aldosterone antagonists
Loop diuretics
(digoxin)
What is used to relieve fluid overload?
Diuretics
Titrate to correct dose
Review and adjust as needed after introducing other drug
What is used to reduce morbidity and mortality?
ACE and beta blocker
ARB is ACE not tolerated
?SGLT 2
Introduce one drug at a time
What do ACE inhibitors do for someone with HF?
Improve heart function
Reduces levels of angiotensin II so you get vasodilation - reduces after load - less force to which the heart has to pump blood out of the arteries
Kidneys activate the RAAS which increases NA/fluid retention in those with HF- more blood volume and higher pressure in heart - ACE reduces aldosterone release which causes fluid build up - lower blood volume and decreases heart’s workload
Slows down / reverse remodelling by reducing stress on heart and preventing effects of angiotensin II and aldosterone
Lowers blood pressure
Helps alleviate symptoms
Long-term protection of kidneys
What are the side effects of ACE inhibitors?
Dry persistent cough - doesn’t breakdown bradykinin
Hyperkalemia
Hypotension
Kidney dysfunction
Angiodemia (rare)
Fatigue and weakness
Dizziness and lightheadedness
What do beta blockers do for someone with HF?
Chronotropic effect - reduce heart rate - block effects of adrenaline and norephirine that increase heart rate.
Reducing heart rate gives the heart more time to pump between beats.
Inotropic effect - reduce force of contraction, in the long run helps the heart to rest, heal, prevents excessive strain and damage.
Blocks effects of hormones released due to SNS - preventing further damage to the heart and reversing some of the structural changes.
Prevent arrhythmias by stabilising heart’s electrical activity.
Lowers the heart rate - lowers the force of contraction which decreases heart’s overall demand for oxygen.
Improves left ventricular ejection fraction - partially due to the beta blocker’s ability to reverse damage
What is the mechanism of beta blockers?
Respond to adrenaline and norepinephrine
Block beta-1 receptors - reduce influence of SNS and slow heart rate, reducing force of contraction
What are the different types of diuretics?
Loop
Thiazide
Aldosterone
What is the mechanism of loop diuretics?
Inhibit reabsorption from thick ascending limb in loops of Henle
Inhibit the potassium-chloride co-transporter in the thick ascending limb
Leads to diuresis (increased water loss) and nature’s (increased sodium loss)
What are the effects of loop diuretics?
Less reabsorption of Na / water - increased natriuresis and diuresis
Promoting water excretion reduces total blood volume, reduction in the workload on the heart with the smaller volume so there is a decrease in pre-load. A reduction in circulating volume can also reduce after-load - helping improve cardiac output
Venous dilation - immediate reduction in venous return to the help and helps reduces congestion
Sudden drop in LV can result in decreased cardiac output and hypotension
What are the side effects to loop diuretics?
Hypokalaemia
Hyponatremia
Hypomagnesemia
Hypocalcemia
Hypochloraemia
Hyponatremia
Hyperglycaemia - insulin sensitivity due to diuretics
Hyperuricimea - increase uric acid levels
Dehydration - excessive fluid loss
Decreased renal perfusion - reduced blood flow to the kidneys
Acute kidney injury - over use of diuretics
Ototoxicity - hearing damage
Hypotension
Metabolic alkalosis