Shortness of Breath Flashcards
What are the three categories for shortness of breath?
- Not enough oxygen reaching the lungs (Asthma, anaphylaxis, COPD)
- Not enough oxygen getting into the blood - V/Q Mismatch
- Not enough oxygen reaching the rest of the body (Anaemia, shock).
What are the common causes of a V/Q mismatch?
Pulmonary embolism
Pulmonary oedema
Pulmonary fibrosis
What are the four common cardiac causes for shortness of breath?
Heart failure
Constrictive pericarditis
Myocarditis
Cardiomyopathy
A pansystolic murmur on auscultation of the right sternal border is suggestive of what pathology?
Tricuspid regurgitation
What is the definition of heart failure?
The failure of the heart to maintain the cardiac output required to meet the physiological demands
-not enough oxygen reaching the rest of the body
What are the two types of anatomical heart failure?
Right and left-sided heart failure
What can are the cardiac complications of left-sided heart failure?
Congestive heart failure increased backflow pressure into the pulmonary veins.
What is the definition of a low-output state?
The heart fails to pump in response to normal exertion -There is low cardiac output.
What is the definition of a high output state?
The cardiac output is normal, however, there is increased metabolic demand (pregnancy, anaemia, hyperthyroidism).
What are the valvular causes of left-sided heart failure?
Aortic stenosis
Aortic regurgitation
Mitral regurgitation
What are the muscular causes of left-sided heart failure?
Ischaemia (IHD)
Cardiomyopathy
Myocarditis
Arrhythmias (AF)
What are the systemic causes of left-sided heart failure?
Hypertension
Amyloidosis
Drugs (cocaine, chemo)
What are the chronic causes of right-sided heart failure?
Pulmonary hypertension (Cor Pulmonale)
Pulmonary embolism
Chronic lung disease (interstitial lung disease, cystic fibrosis)
Tricuspid regurgitation
Pulmonary valve disease
What are the causes of high-output heart failure (NAP Meals)?
Nutritional (B1/Thiamine deficiency) Anaemia Pregnancy Malignancy Endocrine (Hyperthyriodism increases the BMR). AV malformations Liver cirrhosis Sepsis
What are the signs of left-sided heart failure?
Fluid accumulates in the lungs - respiratory symptoms
Dyspnoea - Paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnoea (PND) - Episodic at night
Orthopnoea - SOB when lying flat
Exertional dyspnoea
Nocturnal cough (Pink frothy sputum)
Fatigue
Pulsus alternans Displaced apex beat S3 gallop S4 in severe heart failure Murmur (AS,MR, AR)
Pulmonary oedema - Crackles at lung bases
Wheeze - cardiac asthma
What are the signs of right-sided heart failure?
Fluid accumulates in the peripheries - Swelling signs, raised JVP, Dyspnoea, ankle oedema, sacral oedema
Ascites
Hepatomegaly
Which abnormal heart sounds are associated with LHF?
S3 ventricular gallop
S4 in severe HF
What are the symptoms of RHF?
Fatigue Reduced exercise tolerance Anorexia Nausea Nocturia
Which cardiac biomarker is raised in heart failure?
NT-pro-BNP
A raised NT-Pro-BNP in a patient with suspected HF, indicates which investigation to confirm the diagnosis?
Trans-thoracic echocardiogram (TTE)
What is the diagnostic investigation to confirm heart failure?
Trans-thoracic echocardiogram (TTE) coupled with doppler
What does a TTE with doppler visualise?
Visualises the structure and function of the heart
Calculates ejection fraction (EF): % of blood present in the left ventricle that gets pumped during systole.
EF = SV/EDV x 100
What is a normal ejection fraction?
50-70%
What ejection fraction value is suggestive of reduced ejection fraction heart failure?
<40%
What does reduced ejection fraction heart failure suggest?- Systolic
Indicates an inability of the ventricle to contract normally
Which value suggests a preserved ejection fraction heart failure? - Diastolic
> 50% - indicates an inability of the ventricle to relax and fill normally.
What chest X-ray findings are evident in heart failure?
A: Alveolar odema B-lines - kerley Cardiomegaly Dilated upper lobe vessels Diverted upper lobe Effusion (Transudative pleural effusion).
Which criteria is used for the clinical diagnosis of Heart failure?
Framingham Criteria
What are the major symptoms of the Framingham criteria?
Paroxysmal noctural dyspnoea bibasal crepitations S3 gallop Cardiomegaly Increased central venous pressure Weight loss Neck vein distension Acute pulmonary oedema Hepatojugular reflux