Pathophysiology of heart failure Flashcards
Physiological definition of heart failure?
Heart fails to deliver enough blood for the needs of the body
Clinical definition of heart failure?
Syndrome with multiple causes. Symptoms including breathlessness, fatigue and oedema
Describe blood flow through the heart?
de-oxygenated blood from the body into the superior and inferior vena cava. Into the right atrium, through tricuspid valve into right ventricle. Through pulmonary valve into pulmonary artery to the lungs..
Oxygenated blood from lungs into pulmonary veins into the left atrium through mitral valve into left ventricle, through aortic valve into aorta
What surrounds the heart?
Myocardium
List the 4 types of heart failure?
Acute or chronic
Right or left sided
How do right and left sided heart failure dffer?
Right = peripheral oedema ad raised jugular venous pressure Left = pulmonary venous pressure raised and pulmonary oedema
What can aggravate chronic heart failure?
Dysfunctional neuro-hormonal regulation
What is a complication of chronic heart failure regarding medical procedures?
Complications of GA
Cardiac causes of heart failure?
Heart itself is damaged or its function is restricted - heart muscle disease (ischaemic heart disease)
Abnormal rhythm
Non-cardiac causes of heart failure syndrome?
Excessive demand in high output heart failure - anaemia
Fluid overload from other causes - renal failure, IV therapy
LIst the 4 most common causes of heart failure
Ischaemic heart disease
Hypertension
Valvular heart disease
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Symptoms of heart failure? and causes
Breathlessness (pulmonary oedema)
Oedema (fluid retention)
Fatigue (poor cardiac output)
Investigations of heart failure?
ECG
Echocardiogram
How does reduced cardiac output resemble dehydration?
Reduced blood pressure = low blood volume. Physiological process (activation of renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system) retain salt and water = dehydration
Reduced cardiac output leads to the activation of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system to retain salt and water. What else is activated by renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system?
Activates sympathetic nervous system to vasoconstrict (maintain BP) and stimulate heart (maintain cardiac output)
Why is the activation of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system and sympathetic nervous system conflicting in chronic heart failure?
Chronic heart failure - excessive adrenaline (from sympathetic NS) causes overdrive of the heart
and renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system causes fluid retention = symptoms of chronic heart disease
Activation of renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system and sympathetic NS is compensatory in what type of heart disease?
Acute
How do stretch receptors cause a conflicting compensatory response?
Increased intracardiac pressures detected by stretch receptors = signla fluid overload = peptides released to stimulate sodium excretion = opposite tot he other effects = hormones fighting each toher
Result of renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system?
Increased circulatory volume, oedema, vasoconstriction
What hormones activate sympathetic NS?
Adrenaline and noradrenaline
Effects of sympathetic NS?
Stimulate HR and contractility
Vasocontriction
Increase BP