Congestive Cardiac Failure

Rubani . T
M.Sc nursing
 Content
• Definition
• Etiology
• Pathophysiology
• Clinical Features
• Bedside Examination
• Investigation
• Management
 Congestive Cardiac Failure
Definition:
CCF or Heart Failure in a clinical syndrome that
develops when the heart muscle is weakened
and cannot maintain the adequate cardiac
output or can do so only at an expence of
elevated ventricular filling pressure.
 Pathophysiology
Cardiac output is determined by :
• Preload (the volume and pressure of blood in
the ventricles at the end of diastole)
• Afterload (the volume and pressure of blood
in the ventricle during systole)
•Myocardial contractility
Basis of starling law.
 Frank-Starling mechanism

Represents the relationship between stroke volume and end

diastolic volume.
• The law states that the stroke volume of the heart increases in
response to an increase in the volume of blood in the
ventricles, be for e contraction (the end diastolic volume),
when all other factors remain constant.
• As a larger volume of blood flows in to the ventricle, the blood
stretches the cardiac muscle fibers, leading to an increase in
the force of contraction.
severe (D) heart failure. Ventricular performance is related to the degree of myocardial stretching.
An increase in preload (end-diastolic volume, end-diastolic pressure, filling pressure or atrial
pressure) will therefore enhance function; however, overstretching causes marked deterioration.
In heart failure, the curve moves to the right and becomes flatter. An increase in myocardial
contractility or a reduction in afterload will shift the curve upwards and to the left (green arrow).
• Heart failure is characterised by: a decrease in cardiac output. Cardiac
output in turn is a function of preload, after load and myocardial
contractility. In heart failure, preload is increased, afterload is increased
and myocardial contractility is decreased.

• In initial stages of heart failure with the reduction in CO, certain

compensatory mechanisms come into operation. These compensatory
mechanisms are initially beneficial, but later become counterproductive
and account for most of the manifestations of heart failure.

• These compensatory mechanisms are renin-angiotensin system and

autonomic nervous system.

• Increased myocardial contractility: As the ventricles dilates (resulting in

increased preload), the ventricular contractility increases resulting in
relatively increased volume of blood ejected (Frank-Starling law).

• The increase left ventricular filling pressures are transmitted to the

pulmonary veins which results in alveolar transduction of fluid and
pulmonary congestion. Finally, oxygen demand is enhanced due to
increased contractility.
• Myocardial hypertophy occurs due to volume and pressure overload in the
ventricles and helps in enhanced contractility and hence increased CO.

• However, it produces the increased oxygen demand and reduced

compliance of the ventricle that results in increased preload which is again
transmitted to the pulmonary vasculature.

• Sympathetic stimulation results in peripheral vascularisation which in turn

leads to Na+-water retention due to direct and indirect effects of RAS.

• Sympathetic stimulation also produces increased heart rate and enhances

contractility. Increased afterload maybe deleterious as it tends to reduce
cardiac output and increases oxygen demand of the heart.

• Myocardial remodelling: Changes in structure and function of myocardium

and includes hypertrophy and apoptosis of myocytes and alterations in the
quantity and composition of extracellular matrix. Remodelling involves not
only the ischaemic area, but also the viable myocardium resulting in
gradual loss of contractility over a period of time.
 Types of heart failure

• Left, right and biventricular heart failure

• The left side of the heart comprises the functional unit of the LA and LV,
together with the mitral and aortic valves; the right heart comprises the
RA, RV, and tricuspid and pulmonary valves.

• Left-sided heart failure. There is a reduction in left ventricular output and

an increase in left atrial and pulmonary venous pressure. An acute
increase in left atrial pressure causes pulmonary congestion or pulmonary
oedema; a more gradual increase in left atrial pressure, as occurs with
mitral stenosis, leads to reflex pulmonary vasoconstriction, which protects
the patient from pulmonary oedema. This increases pulmonary vascular
resistance and causes pulmonary hypertension, which can, in turn, impair
right ventricular function.
• Right-sided heart failure. There is a reduction in right
ventricular output and an increase in right atrial and
systemic venous pressure. Causes of isolated right
heart failure include chronic lung disease (cor
pulmonale), pulmonary embolism and pulmonary
valvular stenosis.
• Biventricular heart failure. Failure of the left and right
heart may develop because the disease process, such
as dilated cardiomyopathy or ischaemic heart disease,
affects both ventricles or because disease of the left
heart leads to chronic elevation of the left atrial
pressure, pulmonary hypertension and right heart
failure.
Clinical features
 Clinical Features

Left Sided Heart Failure:

1) Pulmonary Edema
a) Dyspnea (SOB)
b)Orthopnea
c)Paroxysmal Nocturnal Dyspnea
2)Decreased forward Perfusion
Activated Renin Angiotensin Aldosterone System, which
cause fluid retention
and worsenen CHF.
 Clinical Features

Right Sided Heart Failure:

Most common cause of cause of Right Heart Failure is
Left side
Heart Failure.
a) Dyspnea(SOB)
b)Jugular Venous Distention
c)Pitting Edema
d)Ascitis
e)Nutmeg Liver “Hepatomegaly”
General Examination
• General appearance
Cool Peripheral extrimities
Cynosis of lips and nail beds
Dyspnea:-
Early stage of HF-while exertion
Orthopnea- later manifestation of HF
Chronic or severe stages-even at rest
• Pulmonary examination
Pulmonary crackles (Rales or crepitations) can be
heard.
Rales are frequently absent in patients with chronic
HF
But patients without concomitant lung diseases,
rales are specific
For HF

• Cardiac examination
S3(gallop rhythm) is audible and palpable at apex
Murmurs of mitral and tricuspid regurgitation are
frequently
present in patients with advanced HF
• Abdomen and extrimities
Hepatomegaly is seen (frequently tender
and pulsating)
Ascities and jaundice are late signs of HF
Peripheral edema is cardinal
manifestation of HF
(Usually symmetric) but is also
nonspecific
• Jugular Veins
JVP-Usually elevated

• Cardiac Cachexia
With severe chronic HF there is marked
weight loss and cachexia
 Investigations
• BNP>100pg/mL
• Electrocardiogram may be normal or it could show numerous
abnormalities including acute ST-T–wave changes from
myocardial ischemia, atrial fibrillation, bradycardia, left
ventricular hypertrophy
• Serum creatinine may be increased because of hypoperfusion.
Pre existing renal dysfunction can contribute to volume
overload.
• Complete blood count useful to determine if heart failure is a
result of reduced oxygen-carrying capacity
• Chest radiography is useful for detection of cardiac
enlargement, pulmonary edema, and pleural
effusions
• Echocardiogram assesses left ventricle size, valve
function, pericardial effusion, and ejection fraction
• Hyponatremia, serum sodium <130mEq/L, is
associated with reduced survival and may indicate
worsening volume overload and/or disease
progression
Thiazides are ineffective with
GFR<30--/min.
Side Effects –
-Pre renal azotemia
-Skin rashes
-Neutropenia
-Thrombocytopenia
-Hyperglycemia
-Increased uric acid