MedED cardiac SOB Flashcards
What are some reasons that SOB arises?
Not enough oxygen reaching the lungs eg asthama, COPD
Not enough oxygen getting into the blood eg PE, pulmonary oedema and fibrosis
Not enough oxygen reaching the rest of the body eg heart issues, anaemia, shock
What is the definition of heart failure?
The failure of the heart to maintain a cardiac output that is reuqired to meet the bodies demands
What are the 3 ways heart failure can be classified?
Acute or chronic
Left or right
High output state or low output state
What are the 2 main causes of acute heart failure?
Acute coronary syndrome ie massive heart attack causing the heart muscle to fail
Decompensation of chronic heart failure
What is the combination of right and left heart failure called?
Congestive heart failure
What is congestive heart failure?
Right and left heart failure
In congestive heart failure which side of the heart if affected first?
Left
This then progresses to cause right heart failure
What is a low output state in HF?
Heart fails to pump in response to normal exertion causing low cardiac output
What is a high output state in HF?
Cardiac output is normal but there is increased metabolic demand eg pregnancy, anaemia hyperthyroidism etc
What are valvular causes of chronic left heart failure?
Aortic stenosis
Aortic regurg
Mitral regurg
What are muscular causes of chronic left heart failure?
Ischaemia
Cardiomypathy
Myocarditis
Arrhythmias (AF)
What is the biggest systemic causes of chronic left heart failure?
Hypertension
What are lung causes of chronic right heart failure?
Pulmonary hypetension (cor pulmonale) Pulmonary embolism Chronic lung disease eg interstitial, cystic fibrosis
What are valvular causes of chronic right heart failure?
Tricuspid regurg
Pulmonary valve disease
What are the 3 main causes of high output heart failure?
Hyperthyroidism
Anaemia
Pregnancy
Where does fluid accumulate in left heart failure?
Lungs
Where does fluid accumulate in right heart failure?
Peripheries
What type of symptoms do you get with left heart failure?
respiratory
Where does fluid accumulate in right heart failure?
Swelling signs
What are symptoms of left HF?
Dyspnoea
Paroxsymal nocturnal dyspnoea
Nocturnal cough
Fatigue
What is a buzz word for left HF?
Coughing up pink frothy sputum- due to pulmonary oedema
What might you ask in OSCE when taking a history and you suspect left heart failure?
SOB: how far are you able to walk ie how many steps before you need to catch a breath, how many flights of stairs can you climb
Orthopnoea: have you noticed anything makes your sob worse? what about lying down or standing up
PND: do you wake up gasping for air, how many pillows do you need to sleep at night
What are signs for left heart failure?
Heart= high HR and RR, S3 gallop, S4 if severe HF, may be an arrhythmia, murmur (AS, MR, AR) Lungs= due to pulmonary oedema fine end inspiratory crackles at lung bases, wheeze due to cardiac asthma
What are signs of right heart failure?
Face: swelling Neck: raised JVP Heart/chest: TR murmur, high HR and RR Abdomen: ascites, hepatomegaly Other: ankle and pitting oedema
What are symptoms of heart failure?
Fatigue Reduced exercise tolerance Anorexia Nausea Nocturia
What is the main difference in symptoms between left and right heart failure?
Left= breathing symptoms Right= swelling symptoms
What investigations are done for heart failure?
Bedside= ECG
Bloods=FBC, U+Es, LFTs, TFTs, BNP
Imaging= CXR, trans thoracic echocardiogram
What blood tests is most important for heart failure?
BNP
What is the gold standard imaging for diagnosing HF?
Trans thoracic echocardiogram coupled with a doppler
What is the sensitivity and specificity of BNP and what does this mean?
It is highly sensitive- this means if its low they arent in heart failure
It is not specific- this means if its high they may be in heart failure but other things also cause a high BNP
When is BNP released?
Whenever the ventricles are streched
What does TTE with doppler allow you to see and conclude in heart failure?
Allows you to see the structure and function of the heart and may show the cause of HF
Can calc EF
What is a normal EF?
50-70%
What occurs in HFrEF?
There is systolic dysfunction- the ventricles are unable to contract properly
What occurs in HFpEF?
The ventricles are unable to relax and fill normally
What type of HF do you get when systole vs diastole is impaired?
Impaired systole= HFrEF
Impaired diastole= HFpEF
What are some chest x ray signs of heart failure?
Pleural effusion
Kerley B lines
Increased cardiothoracic ratio
Go through chest x ray A-E for someone with HF?
A- lveolar oedema
B- line (Kerley)
C- ardiomegaly
D- ilated upper lobes vessels and diverted upper lobe
E- ffusion (transudative pleural effusion)
What type of effusion do you get in heart failure?
Transudative pleural effusion