24 - Heart Failure Investigation Flashcards
1
Q
Symptoms of heart failure?
A
Dizziness
Dyspnoea
Peripheral oedema (pitting)
Pulmonary oedema
2
Q
What measure being raised indicates heart failure?
A
BNP (>100) (should be considerably raised to be obvious about diagnosis)
3
Q
Once heart failure is clinically suspected, what is the most appropriate investigation to confirm the diagnosis?
A
Transthoracic echocardiogram
4
Q
What is a loud ejection systolic murmur indicative of?
A
Aortic stenosis
5
Q
Why use a transthoracic echocardiogram to diagnose heart failure/cause of heart failure?
A
Required to establish presence or absence of cardiac abnormalities and guide early specialist management (e.g. if signs of valve abnormality is present it will identify it)
