heart failure

Question 1

what is heart failure

Answer 1

> Complex syndrome that can result from any structural or functional cardiac disorder that impairs the ability of the heart to function as a pump to support a physiological circulation

> End stage of many cardiovascular diseases

Question 2

what are the main causes

Answer 2

Main causes: ischaemic heart disease, dilated cardiomyopathy and hypertension

Question 3

Other causes:

Answer 3

other forms of cardiomyopathy, valvular disease, arrhythmias, pericardial disease, infections, alcohol, diabetes, congenital heart disease

Question 4

Congestive heart failure:

Answer 4

inability of heart to pump/supply enough blood

Question 5

Ejection fraction:

Answer 5

percentage of blood that is pumped out of the heart during each beat (SV/EDV x 100)

Question 6

Heart failure with reduced ejection fraction - Systolic Heart Faliure

Answer 6

• Ejection fraction <40%
• Reduced contractility → systolic ventricular dysfunction → decreased LVEF → decreased cardiac output (high EDV and EDP)
• Caused by ischaemic heart disease, valvular heart disease and hypertension

Question 7

Heart failure with preserved left ventricular ejection fraction - Diastolic Heart Faliure

Answer 7

• Symptoms and signs of heart failure with an ejection fraction of >50%
• Decreased ventricular compliance → diastolic ventricular dysfunction → reduced ventricular filling and increased diastolic pressure → decreased cardiac output
• Causes: increased stiffness of ventricle and impaired relaxation of the ventricle