Week 4 - heart failure, infective endocarditis, symptomstic aortic stenosis Flashcards
what does diaphoretic mean ?
sweating
What does the medical abbreviation PRN mean ?
take the drug as/when required
What are the investigations for suspected heart failure ?
- ECG
- ECHO
- CXR
- bloods (FBC, CRP, BNP, Liver/renal/thyroid function tests, glucose)
- ABG
Why is a BNP done in suspected heart failure ?
BNP is a cardiac neurohormone marker which is secreted from the heart when under stress
a normal result would exclude HF
What is the immediate treatment for suspected heart failure ?
furosemide (diuretic)
digoxin (glycoside)
then treat the underlying cause of the heart filaure e.g AF…
Why does heart failure cause a raised pulse rate
baroreceptors in carotids and aorta notice a decreased stretchdue to faulty ventricular action, so they relay to the medulla to increase heart rate in order to get blood around the body
Why does heart failure increase blood pressure ?
- The left ventricle is not working well
- causes back flow through the heart and lungs, dropping BP
- receptors notice this drop in BP and cause vasoconstriction to counter this
- this increases arterial pressure and venous return to the heart
this correction of BP happens within 30s
How is the RAAS system involved in correcting heart failure ?
- baroreceptors in kidney sense dropped BP
- kidneys release renin
- causes vasoconstriction
- as well as salt and water retention hence why you give furosemide in HF
How does heart failure cause oedema ?
backflow of pressure in the heart/lungs causes a drop in BP which is registered by receptors and counteracted = vasoconstriction, increasing capillary pressure so fluid leaks out of capillaries
Why is it common to see oedema in the ankles?
gravity causes the majority of fluid to pool in the legs
What is orthopnoea ?
breathlessness worsening when lying down
What causes orthopnoea in heart failure ?
lying down increases venous return to heart which increases blood flow to the pulmonary circulation and the left ventricle is unable to compensate for this (as in normal physiology) which causes pooling in pulmonary circulation and therefore fluid leakage into alveoli = pulmonary oedema
Why is JVP raised in heart failure ?
back flow of pressure in the heart causes increased pressure in right atrium which increases pressure in the JVP
Can you see the JVP in a healthy person ?
no !
only if pressure is raised in right atrium or pressure is places on the liver (hepatojugular reflex)
What can cause a raised JVP ?
- right ventricular failure
- tricuspid stenosis/regurgitation
- pericardial effusion
- constructive pericarditis
- superior vena cava obstruction
- volume overload (CHF, renal failure…)
How many grades of heart murmur are there ?
4 grades of murmur
What is a grade 1 heart murmur ?
murmur is heard only when intently listening for some time
What is a grade 2 heart murmur ?
a faint murmur heard immediately on auscultation
What is a grade 3 heart murmur ?
a loud murmur with no palpable thrill
What is a grade 4 heart murmur ?
a loud murmur with palpable thrills
What type of murmur is heard in mitral regurgitation?
pan systolic murmur
What type of murmur is heard in aortic stenosis ?
ejection systolic murmur
What type of murmur is heard in aortic regurgitation?
blowing decrescendo diastolic murmur
What type of murmur is heard in pulmonary regurgitation?
early diastolic decrescendo murmur
What type of murmur is heard in mitral stenosis ?
mid-diastolic low, rumbling murmur
What type of murmur is heard in tricuspid stenosis ?
mid- diastolic murmur
What type of murmur is heard in tricuspid regurgitation?
pan systolic murmur