Heart Failure Flashcards

1
Q

Heart Failure

A

clinical syndrome described as the inability of the heart to pump an adequate amount of oxygenated blood to meet the body’s demands.

-inadequate CO

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2
Q

Two problems of Heart failure

A
  • Filling problem

- Contracting problem

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3
Q

Filling problem

A

poor compliance or lack of space to fill

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4
Q

contracting problem

A

poor contractility

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5
Q

How many in US have heart failure?

A

5.8 mil

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6
Q

cure for heart failure

A

-no cure, only preventative measures and tx of symptoms is available at this time

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7
Q

Primary risk factors for heart failure

A
  • CAD

- Advancing age

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8
Q

Contributing risk factors for heart failure

A
  • HTN
  • DM
  • Tobacco use
  • Obesity
  • High serum cholesterol
  • AA descent
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9
Q

Path of blood through the heart

A
  1. blood from upper and lower body enters the R. Atrium
  2. moves to the right ventricle
  3. pumped to the lungs via the pulmonary artery
  4. returns to the left Atrium
  5. moves to the left ventricle
  6. pumped though the body via aorta
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10
Q

Goal for Heart failure patients

A

improve cardiac output

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11
Q

CO

A

the amount of blood ejected out of the ventricles each minute

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12
Q

CI

A

Cardiac Index: CO adjusted for body size

CI= CO/BSA

BSA= ht(cm) x wt(kg)/3600 to the 1/2 power

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13
Q

Stroke Volume

A

amount of blood ejected from the ventricles with each ventricular systole contraction

CO= HR x SV

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14
Q

CO norm

A

4-8 L/min

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15
Q

CI norm

A

2.5 L/min

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16
Q

SV norm

A

60-130 mls

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17
Q

HR norm

A

60-100 beats/min

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18
Q

Systemic Vascular Resistance

A

600-1400

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19
Q

Pulmonary Vascular Resistance

A

20-130

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20
Q

Preload

A
  • measurement of volume
  • amount of blood in the heart at the end of diastole
  • increased with volume replacement
  • decreased by blood loss and diuretics
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21
Q

Afterload

A
  • measurement of resistance

- influenced by vascular resistance, blood pressure, blood viscosity, and aortic/pulmonic stenosis

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22
Q

Contractility

A
  • cannot directly measure but can be see with echo
  • strength of myocardial contraction
  • influenced by preload (Frank Starling’s Law)
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23
Q

Frank Starlings Law (or Curve)

A

As you increase preload, contractility will improve….to a point.

-too much preload can overstretch the heart and weaken the cardiac muscle causing worsened contractility

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24
Q

Hemodynamics prinicipals review

A

CO = HR x SV

Preload (dumps blood into the heart)….Contractility (forces the blood out of the heart)…..Afterload (the resistance that the heart must work against

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25
Q

According to Frank Starling’s law, when preload is increased, what is the initial response of the heart?

A

Contractility increased

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26
Q

What causes the heart to fail?

A
  1. Impaired myocardial function
  2. increased cardiac workload
  3. Non-cardiac conditions
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27
Q

Impaired myocardial function

A

CAD, rheumatic fever, endocarditis, cardiomyopathy

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28
Q

Increased cardiac workload

A

HTN, valve disorders, anemia, congenital heart defects

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29
Q

Non-cardiac conditions

A

volume overload, hyperthyroidism, massive pulmonary embolus

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30
Q

Compensatory Mechanisms in Heart Failure

A

When the heart begins to fail the body attempts to compensate

  • initially these compensatory mechanisms are helpful, but ultimately they harm the patient only worsening their heart failure
  • muscle fibers have stretched heart chambers enlarges
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31
Q

Compensatory Mechanisms cascade in heart failure

A

Decreased CO stimulates the SNS to release Norepinephrine……

Norepinephrine increases HR and contractility but also causes vasoconstriction….

vasoconstriction increases venous return to the heart which increases ventricular filling……

overfilling stretches the heart causing myocardial hypertrophy…..

the hypertrophied ventricle has decreased contractility which in turn decreases CO

32
Q

HF and Respiratory system

A

fluid overload

33
Q

HF and Neuro

A

poor CO

34
Q

HF and skin

A

poor perfusion and edema puts patients at risk for skin breakdown

35
Q

HF and GI

A

liver congestion and enlargement, ascites, and malnutrition

36
Q

HF and urinary

A

poor renal perfusion

37
Q

Kidney’s role in HF

A
  1. Decreased renal perfusion (low CO)
  2. Angiotensin II and Aldosterone released
  3. Causes increased anti-diuretic hormone (ADH)
  4. ADH causes the kidneys to reabsorb more water
  5. combination of increased sodium and water leads to a further increased preload
  6. the weak heart cannot handle the excess fluid (preload) and “congestion” worsens, heart becomes more dilated and CO drops even more
38
Q

Types of HF

A

Systolic and Diastolic

39
Q

Systolic HF

A
  • decrease in the amount of blood ejected from the ventricle

causes: heart attack, increased preload, cardiomyopathy, mechanical abnormalities

40
Q

Diastolic HF

A
  • when the heart cannot fill effectively, due to increased resistance to filling
    causes: left ventricular hypertrophy from chronic HTN, aortic stenosis, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
41
Q

Left sided HF

A
  • most common type of HF from left ventricular dysfunction

- the fluid back up reaches the pulmonary bed and causes pulmonary edema

42
Q

S/S of Left HF

A
  • cap refill > 3 seconds
  • Orthopnea
  • Dyspnea on exertion
  • nocturnal dyspnea
  • cough with frothy sputum (indicative of pulmonary edema)
  • tachypnea
  • diaphoresis
  • basilar crackles or rhonchi
  • cyanosis
  • hypoxia (resp. acidosis)
  • elevated pulmonary artery pressures
  • elevate pulmonary artery occlusive pressures
  • audible S3 and S4 heart tones
  • mental confusion
  • wt gain
  • fatigue/wekaness/lethargy
  • murmur or mitral insufficiency
  • enlarged left ventricle on xray
  • enlarged left atrium on xray
  • narrowing pulse pressure
43
Q

Pulmonary Edema: Medical Emergency

A
  • accumulation of fluid in the interstitial tissue and alveoli of the lungs (pt is literally drowning in their own fluid overload)
  • rapid interventions necessary or death is eminent
44
Q

Tx for pulmonary edema

A
  • diuretics to pull fluid out of the lungs
  • nitrates to vasodilate and reduce ststemic vascular resistance
  • morphine to reduce anxiety and vasodilate (use sparingly)
45
Q

Manifestations fo pulmary edema

A
  • cough with frothy, blood-tinged sputum
  • breath sounds (crackles, wheezes, rhonchi)
  • tachycardia
  • hypotension or HTN
  • orthopnea
  • dyspnea, tachypnea
  • use of accessory muscles
  • cyanosis
  • cool and clammy skin
46
Q

Right Sided HF

A
  • not as common as left side
  • usually caused by left side HF
-other causes: 
• Coronary artery disease of the vessels that feed the right heart
• Tricuspid valve problems
• Pulmonic valve problems
• Pulmonary hypertension
• Pulmonary embolus
47
Q

Cascade of right sided HF

A

Increased pressure from the pulmonary vasculature causes the right heart to become distended….

the right heart cannot effectively empty and fluid backs up in the systemic circulation…

Abdominal organs become congested and peripheral tissues become edematous

48
Q

S/S of Right sided HF

A
  • hepatomegaly
  • splenomegaly
  • dependent pitting edema
  • venous distention
  • hepatojugular reflux
  • oliguria
  • arrhythmias
  • elevated CVP
  • elevated right atrial pressure
  • elevated right ventricular pressure
  • narrowing pulse pressure
  • murmur or tricuspid insufficiency
  • audible S3 and S4 heart tones
  • fatigue/weakness
  • abdominal pain
  • anorexia
  • enlarged right atrium on xray
  • enlarged right ventricle on xray
  • ascites
  • wt gain
49
Q

CXR

A

cardiomegaly, pleural effusions

50
Q

ECHO

A

wall motion abnormalities, valvular problems, ejection fraction

51
Q

ECG

A

dysrhythmias

52
Q

Cardiac Cath

A

valves, ejection fraction

53
Q

Pulmonary artery catheter

A

response to diuretic therapy pulmonary pressures

54
Q

Ejection Fraction

A

amount of blood ejected during systole compared to the amount of blood in the heart at the end of diastole

  • normal: 50-70%
  • 2/3 of end diastolic volume is ejected normally
  • HF EF is less than 40%
55
Q

HF Diagnostic Labs

A
  • Beta Natriuretic peptide (BNP)
  • Cardiac enzymes
  • Alanine- aminotransferase (ALT)
  • Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST)

Arterial Blood Gases (ABG)

Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR)

Creatinine Sodium

Levels Bilirubin

56
Q

Goals of Tx for HF

A
  1. Slow the progression of HF
  2. Reduce cardiac workload
  3. Improve cardiac function
  4. Control fluid retention
57
Q

Pharm Tx for HF

A
  • Ace Inhibitors
  • ARBS
  • Diuretics
  • Digitalis
  • BB
  • Nitrates
  • Sympathomimetic Agents
  • Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors
58
Q

Ace Inhibitors

A

the “PRILs”

  • block the RAAS process
  • reduce afterload through vasodilation
  • reduce ventricular remodeling through suppression of myocyte growth
  • decreases preload and left ventricular filing pressures which increase CO
59
Q

ARBS

A

“tans”

  • Angiotensin II receptor blockers
  • Pharm affect similar to ACE inhibitors
60
Q

Diuretics

A

inhibit the absorption of sodium and water and promote their excretion

-Lasix, bumex, spironolactone, diamox, HCTZ

61
Q

Digitalis

A
  • cardiac glycoside inhibits the sodium-potassium pump system and increases cardiac contractility
  • increases the refractoriness of AV node which decreases the ventricular response to atrial rate (lowers HR)
  • Digoxin is used as a first-line drug in patients with CHF who are in a fib
62
Q

BB

A

“lols”

  • improves left ventricular fx by inhibiting the sympathetic nervous system
  • anti-arrhythmic properties
  • slows HR
63
Q

Nitrates

A

Cause vasodilation of the vessels which help to decrease cardiac oxygen demand, cardiac preload, and afterload while increasing CO

  • nipride (IVD)
  • NTG (IVD)
  • Isosorbide dinitrate
  • Hydralizine
  • Amlodipine
  • Prazosin
64
Q

Sympathomimetric Agents

A

stimulate the heart to improve the force of contraction

“mine”

  • dopamine
  • dobutamine
65
Q

Phosphodiasterase Inhibitors

A

increases contractility and causes vasodilation resulting in decreased afterload and increased CO

“none”

  • Amrinone
  • Milrinone
66
Q

Non-pharm tx for HF

A
  • IABP placement
  • VAD implant
  • Heart transplant
67
Q

IABP for decompensated HF

A

Intra-Aortic Balloon Pump

  • balloon placed in aorta that inflates during diastole and deflates during systole
  • offers afterload reduction through vacuum effect and increases coronary perfusion upon inflation
  • temporarily solution to improve cardiac output for patients in cardiogenic shock
  • multiple risks associated with IABP
68
Q

Ventricular Assist Device Placement

A

Electromechanical pump which augments or fully replaces the work of the ventricle

  • Most commonly used in the left ventricle: attaches in the apex of the LV blood is redirected through a hose and the pump which allows the blood to bypass the aortic valve blood enters the system circulation in the ascending aorta
  • “Bridge to transplant” or “Destination therapy”
  • Patients are at high risk for bleeding and clots
69
Q

Heart Transplant

A
  • Surgery involves removing the recipient’s heart, except for the posterior right and left atrial walls and their venous connections
  • Recipient’s heart is replaced with the donor heart
  • Anti-rejection medications usually started in the OR
  • Patient is at high risk for infection (compromised host) for the rest of their life
70
Q

List for Heart transplant

A
  • placed on list according to severity of HF
  • waiting period is long, many die
  • candidacy is determined by multi- interdisciplinary health care team
  • psych evals
71
Q

Life with a Heart Transplant

A
  • High dose of immunosuppressive medications
  • Strict regiment
  • Endomyocardial biopsies
  • High risk of infection that lead to complications
  • Rejection of heart
72
Q

HF nursing assessment

A
  • Monitor vital signs/oxygenation/Neuro status
  • Daily weight
  • Breath sounds
  • Capillary refill
  • Assess for signs: peripheral edema/ jugular vein distention/hepatomegaly/ascites
  • Evaluate electrolytes
  • Pain level
  • Intake and Output
73
Q

Basic Nursing Care for HF

A
  • ABC’s
  • Oxygen therapy
  • Continuous cardiac/Pulse oximetry monitoring.
  • HOB @ 30 degrees
  • Pharmaceutical therapy
  • Restrict sodium and fluid intake (strict I&O)
  • Cluster care
  • Monitor restlessness, anxiety, pain. bowels
74
Q

Patient and Family Discharge Teaching

A
  • Medication
  • Diet/Fluid restrictions
  • Smoking cessation support
  • The importance of follow-up Dr.’s appointments
  • Daily weights
  • Self-monitoring
  • Community resources
75
Q

HF Summary

A
  • Heart Failure is either a filling problem or a pump problem
  • Patient will never recover from heart failure
  • Some patients may have surgical interventions if they are a candidate
  • Nurses primary role is to monitor CO, implement interventions to improve CO, and teach patient how to manage their disease process properly.