Heart Failure Review Lecture Notes

Introduction

• Lecturer: Sarah, RN from register nurse rn.com
• Video series on cardiovascular system for INLEX
• This video: Part 1 (Pathophysiology of Heart Failure)
  • Covers causes, signs and symptoms, types, triggers, diagnosis
  • Includes mnemonics for remembering
• Part 2: Nursing interventions and pharmacology
• Free INLEX quiz available on register nurse rn.com

What is Heart Failure?

• Heart failure: heart too weak to pump efficiently
• Results in inadequate cardiac output to meet body's metabolic needs
• Issues occur with heart muscle contraction and valve function
• Focus: Ventricles (Right and Left)

Causes of Heart Failure (Mnemonic: FAILURE)

1. F: Faulty heart valves (stenosis or regurgitation)
2. A: Arrhythmias (e.g., Atrial Fibrillation, Tachycardia)
3. I: Infarction (e.g., Myocardial Infarction from CAD)
4. L: Lineage (genetic or congenital)
5. U: Uncontrolled hypertension
6. R: Recreational drug use (e.g., cocaine, alcohol)
7. E: Evaders (e.g., viruses, infections affecting the heart)

Types of Heart Failure

1. Left-Sided Heart Failure

• Affects left ventricle (systolic or diastolic dysfunction)
• Blood backflow into lungs (pulmonary symptoms)

2. Right-Sided Heart Failure

• Blood backflow into peripheral areas (peripheral symptoms)
• Commonly secondary to left-sided failure or due to lung diseases

Blood Flow and Heart Failure

• Normal Flow: Superior/Inferior Vena Cava → Right Atrium → Tricuspid Valve → Right Ventricle → Pulmonic Valve → Pulmonary Artery → Lungs → Left Atrium → Bicuspid Valve → Left Ventricle → Aortic Valve → Aorta → Body
• Heart Failure: Ventricles fail to contract/fill properly leading to backflow

Symptoms by Type

Right-Sided Heart Failure (Mnemonic: SWELLING)

• S: Swelling (hands, legs, liver)
• W: Weight gain
• E: Edema (pitting)
• L: Large neck veins (JVD)
• L: Lethargy
• I: Irregular heart rate
• N: Nocturia (nighttime urination)
• G: Girth (abdominal swelling)

Left-Sided Heart Failure (Mnemonic: DROWNING)

• D: Dyspnea
• R: Rales (crackles)
• O: Orthopnea
• W: Weakness
• N: Nocturnal dyspnea
• I: Increased heart rate
• N: Nagging cough
• G: Gaining weight

Diagnosing Heart Failure

• BNP: Biomarker released by ventricles under pressure
  • Values: Less than 100 (None), 100-300 (Present), Over 900 (Severe)
• Other tests: Chest X-ray, Echocardiogram, Heart Cath, Nuclear Stress Test

Triggers of Heart Failure Exacerbation

• Poor dietary compliance (high sodium, excess fluids)
• Infections
• Uncontrolled atrial fibrillation
• Renal failure

Conclusion

• Heart failure management: Medications, diet, other treatments
• Watch out for Part 2 for nursing interventions and medications
• Reminder to subscribe to the YouTube channel