NR 452 Simulation Questions .

1. What key priority assessment findings are usually seen in left-sided heart failure? How do these findings differ from right-sided heart failure? Left sided heart failure: the left side of the heart cannot pump the blood out of the heart so blood starts to back up into the lungs. Left-sided heart failure or left ventricular failure have different manifestations with right-sided heart failure. Pulmonary congestion occurs when the left ventricle cannot effectively pump blood out of the ventricle into the aorta and the systemic circulation. Pulmonary venous blood volume and pressure increase, forcing fluid from the pulmonary capillaries into the pulmonary tissues and alveoli, causing pulmonary interstitial edema and impaired gas exchange