Congestive Heart Failure and Pulmonary Edema

1. Congestive Heart Failure and Pulmonary Edema

2. Mortality/Morbidity • The most common cause of death is progressive heart failure, but sudden death may account for up to 45% of all deaths. • Patients with coexisting IDDM have a significantly higher mortality rate. • Approximately 30-40% of patients with CHF are hospitalized each year. Leading diagnosis-related group over 65. The 5 year mortality after Dx was reported as 60% in men and 45% in women in 1971. In 1991, data from the Farmington heart study showed the 5 year mortality rate remaining unchanged, with a median survival of 3.2 years for men, and 5.4 years for women, post dx.

3. Background • Responsible for 5-10% of all hospital admissions • Causes or contributes to approximately 250,000 deaths per year • Effects an estimated 4.9 million Americans • 1% of adults 50-60 • 10% adults over 80 • Over 550,000 new cases annually • $28.7 million committed in research dollars each year • $132 million for lung cancer, affecting 390,000 Americans

4. CHF Defined • An imbalance in pump function in which the heart fails to maintain the circulation of blood adequately.

5. Pathophysiology • Summarized as an imbalance in Starlings forces or an imbalance in the degree of end-diastolic fiber stretch proportional to the systolic mechanical work expended in the ensuing contraction. • Or basically like a rubber band, the more it is stretched, the greater the releasing velocity.

6. Under normal circumstances, when fluid is transferred into the lung interstitium with increased lymphatic flow, no increase in interstitial volume occurs. • However, when the capacity of the lymphatic drainage is exceeded, liquid accumulates in the interstitial spaces surrounding the bronchioles and lung vasculature, this creating CHF. • When increased fluid and pressure cause tracking into the interstitial space around the alveoli and disruption of alveolar membrane junctions, fluid floods the alveoli and leads to pulmonary edema

7. Etiologies • Alcohol--chronic • MI--acute • Diabetes—chronic • Coronary artery disease--chronic • HTN--both • Valvular heart disease (especially aorta and mitral disease)--chronic • Infections--acute • Dysrhythmias--acute

8. Important Terminology • Afterload— • The pressure that must be overcome for the heart to pump blood into the arterial system. • Dependent on the systemic vascular resistance • With increased afterload, the heart muscles must work harder to overcome the constricted vascular bed à chamber enlargement • Increasing the afterload will eventually decrease the cardiac output. • Preload— • The amount of blood the heart must pump with each beat • Determined by: • Venous return to heart • Accompanying stretch of the muscle fibers • Increasing preload à increase stroke volume in normal heart • Increasing preload à impaired heart à decreased SV. Blood is trapped àchamber enlargement

9. CAD • When cholesterol and fatty deposits build up in the heart’s arteries, less blood reaches the heart muscle. This damages the muscle, and the healthy heart tissue that remains has to work harder

10. Hypertension • Uncontrolled HTN doubles the chances of failure • With HTN, the chambers of the heart enlarge and weaken.

11. Valvular Heart Disease • Can result from disease, infection, or be congenital • Don’t open and/or close completely à increased workload à failure

12. Disrhythmias • Tachycardias àdecreased diastolic filling time à decreased SV. • Atrial dysrhythmias à as much as 30% reduction in stroke volume

13. MI--Acute and Past • The ischemic tissue is basically taken out of the equation, leaving a portion of the heart to do the work of the entire heart à decreased SV àCHF.

14. Diabetes • Tend to be overweight • HTN • Hyperlipidemia

15. Types of Rhythms Associated with CHF

16. Types of CHF • Left Ventricular Failure with Pulmonary Edema • Aka—systolic heart failure • Right Ventricular Failure • Aka—diastolic heart failure

18. Left Ventricular Failure with PE • When pressure becomes to high, the fluid portion of the blood is forced into the alveoli. • àdecreased oxygenation capacity of the lungs • AMI common with LVF, suspect • Occurs when the left ventricle fails as an effective forward pump • àback pressure of blood into the pulmonary circulation • à pulmonary edema • Cannot eject all of the blood delivered from the right heart. • Left atrial pressure rises à increased pressure in the pulmonary veins and capillaries

19. Signs and Symptoms of LVF • Diaphoresis— • Results from sympathetic stimulation • Pulmonary congestion • Often present • Rales—especially at the bases. • Rhonchi—associated with fluid in the larger airways indicative of severe failure • Wheezes—response to airway spasm • Severe resp. distress– • Evidenced by orthopnea, dyspnea • Hx of paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea. • Severe apprehension, agitation, confusion— • Resulting from hypoxia • Feels like he/she is smothering • Cyanosis—

20. Jugular Venous Distention—not directly related to LVF. • Comes from back pressure building from right heart into venous circulation • Vital Signs— • Significant increase in sympathetic discharge to compensate. • BP—elevated • Pulse rate—elevated to compensate for decreased stroke volume. • Respirations—rapid and labored

21. LOC— • may vary. • Depends on the level of hypoxia • Chest Pain • May in the presence of MI • Can be masked by the RDS.

22. REMEMBER LEFT VENTRICULAR FAILURE IS A TRUE LIFE THREATENING EMERGENCY

23. Right Heart Failure • Pathophysiology— • Decreased right-sided cardiac output or increased pulmonary vascular resistance àincreased right vent. Pressures. • As pressures rise, this àincreased pressure in the right atrium and venous system • Higher right atrium pressures à JVP • Etiology— • Acute MI— • Inferior MI • Pulmonary disease • COPD, fibrosis, HTN • Cardiac disease involving the left or both ventricles • Results from LVF

24. In the peripheral veins, pressures rise and the capillary pressures increase, hydrostatic pressure exceeds that of interstitial pressure • Fluid leaks from the capillaries into the surrounding tissues causing peripheral edema • Lungs are clear due to left ventricular pressures are normal

25. Signs and Symptoms • Often will be on Lasix, Digoxin, • Have chronic pump failure • Marked JVD • Clear chest • Hypotension • Marked peripheral edema • Ascites, hepatomegaly • Poor exercise tolerance • The first three are for an inferior MI, describe cardiac tamponade.

26. Compensatory Mechanisms in CHF • Neurohormonal system • Renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system • Ventricular hypertrophy

27. Neurohormonal System • Stimulated by decreased perfusion à secretion of hormones • Epi— • Increases contractility • Increases rate and pressure • Vasoconstriction à SVR • Vasopressin— • Pituitary gland • Mild vasoconstriction, renal water retention

28. Renin-Angiotensin Mechanism • Decreased renal blood flow secondary to low cardiac output triggers renin secretion by the kidneys • Aldosterone is released à increase in Na+ retention à water retention • Preload increases • Worsening failure

29. Ventricular Hypertrophy • Long term compensatory mechanism • Increases in size due to increase in work load ie skeletal muscle

30. Comparison of COPD, CHF Pneumonia

33. Drug Therapy • Aimed at diminishing the compensatory mechanisms of low cardiac output and also improving contractility • Vasodilators—ACE inhibitors • Diuretic agents • Inotropic agents

34. Vasodilators • Common ACE inhibitors • Captopril • Lisinopril • Vasotec • Monopril • Accupril • Nitrates • Dilate blood vessels • Often constricted due to activation of the sympathetic nervous system and the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system. • Aka—ACE inhibitors

35. Diuretics • Lasix • Hydrochlorothiazide(HCTZ) • Spironolactone • These inhibit reabsorption of Na+ into the kidneys

36. Inotropic Agents • Digoxin • Lanoxin • Increases the contractility of the heart à increasing the cardiac output

37. Calcium Channel Blockers • Used to dilate blood vessels • Used mostly with CHF in the presence of ischemia • Nifedipine • Diltiazem • Verapamil • Amlodipine • Felodipine

38. Beta Blockers • Useful by blocking the beta-adrengergic receptors of the sympathetic nervous system, the heart rate and force of contractility are decreased àcould actually worsen CHF • Metoprolol • Atenolol • Propanolol • Amiodarone

39. Prehospital Treatment • The prehospital goals for managing CHF • Promotion of rest • Relief of anxiety • Decreasing cardiac workload • Attainment of normal tissue perfusion

40. Promotion of Rest • DO NOT make these patient’s walk • Could start a fluid “rush” into the alveoli • Try to get them to sit still if they appear agitated and hypoxic

41. Relief of Anxiety • Often experienced • Leads to increase in O2 demand and cardiac workload • Explain what you are doing • MS 2 mg for treatment of anxiety and for decreasing preload

42. Decreasing Cardiac Workload • NTG • MS • Lasix • O2—High flow O2

43. Common Heart Failure Medications • ACE Inhibitors • Digitalis • Diuretics • Hydralazine • Nitrates

44. ACE Inhibitors • Prevent the production of the chemicals that causes blood vessels to narrow • Resulting in blood pressure decreasing and the heart pumping easier

45. Digitalis • Inotropic effects on the heart • Negative chronotropic effects

46. Diuretics • Decrease the body’s retention of salt and water • Reduces blood pressure • Probably will be on potassium

47. Hydralazine • Widens the blood vessels, therefore allowing more blood flow

48. Nitrates • Relaxation of smooth muscle • Widens blood vessels • Lowers systolic blood pressure

49. Diagnostic Challenges • Particularly difficult in elderly • Atypical presentations • Predominant symptoms include: • Anorexia • Generalized weakness • Fatigue • Mental disturbances • Anxiety

50. Lung Sounds Associated with CHF • Bubbling Rhonchi • Coarse Crackles • Fine Crackles • Gurgling Rhonchi • Rales