CHF Exam 1 Questions & Answers
2024/2025
What are some underlying causes of CHF? - ANSWERSAcute: Pulmonary embolism, acute hypoxemia due
to altitude sickness or ARDS
Chronic: COPD, Cystic fibrosis causing chronic hypoxemia
Left-end diastolic pressure is estimated using what hemodynamic value? - ANSWERSPCWP
Which type of heart failure leads to peripheral edema? - ANSWERSRight-sided heart failure
Which type of heart failure leads to pulmonary edema? - ANSWERSLeft-sided heart failure
To evaluate ventricular function, what three aspects should be evaluated? - ANSWERSPreload
Afterload
Contractility
Define preload. - ANSWERSThe amount of filling prior to ventricular contraction.
The more the filling, the more the ventricular muscle is stretched. If it is stretched too much it cannot
contract strongly enough to sufficiently empty the heart, thus leading to "congestion" of the ventricle.
Define afterload. - ANSWERSResistance to blood flow through the circulatory system.
Degree of filling of the ventricle prior to contraction.
Define stroke volume. - ANSWERSThe volume of blood the heart ejects with each beat.
, As the heart muscle weakens, what happens to the cardiac output? Increase or decrease? -
ANSWERSDecrease
As the heart muscle weakens, what happens to the stroke volume? Increase or decrease? -
ANSWERSDecrease
If cardiac output is decreased, which nervous system will release norepinephrine? -
ANSWERSSympathetic nervous system
Gas exchange problems are typically associated with left or right-sided heart problems? - ANSWERSLeft
Right-sided heart problems: signs and symptoms: - ANSWERSa. Limbs, especially ankles and wrists
b. Jugular venous distension (JVD)
c. Hepatomegaly
d. Ascites
e. Anasarca—severe generalized peripheral edema
What does the CXR show for Right-sided heart problems? - ANSWERSFailure alone shows few if any lung
changes except those which may be present due to underlying pulmonary disease.
Left-sided heart problems: signs and symptoms: - ANSWERSa. Increased dyspnea
b. Abnormal breath sounds (rales, especially in lower and middle lung fields are most common)
c. Non-productive cough (although may be productive if pneumonia is also present)
d. Tachycardia seen in both left and right side failure
e. Decreased exercise/activity tolerance
f. Sometimes arrhythmias are seen
g. Sometimes angina is reported
2024/2025
What are some underlying causes of CHF? - ANSWERSAcute: Pulmonary embolism, acute hypoxemia due
to altitude sickness or ARDS
Chronic: COPD, Cystic fibrosis causing chronic hypoxemia
Left-end diastolic pressure is estimated using what hemodynamic value? - ANSWERSPCWP
Which type of heart failure leads to peripheral edema? - ANSWERSRight-sided heart failure
Which type of heart failure leads to pulmonary edema? - ANSWERSLeft-sided heart failure
To evaluate ventricular function, what three aspects should be evaluated? - ANSWERSPreload
Afterload
Contractility
Define preload. - ANSWERSThe amount of filling prior to ventricular contraction.
The more the filling, the more the ventricular muscle is stretched. If it is stretched too much it cannot
contract strongly enough to sufficiently empty the heart, thus leading to "congestion" of the ventricle.
Define afterload. - ANSWERSResistance to blood flow through the circulatory system.
Degree of filling of the ventricle prior to contraction.
Define stroke volume. - ANSWERSThe volume of blood the heart ejects with each beat.
, As the heart muscle weakens, what happens to the cardiac output? Increase or decrease? -
ANSWERSDecrease
As the heart muscle weakens, what happens to the stroke volume? Increase or decrease? -
ANSWERSDecrease
If cardiac output is decreased, which nervous system will release norepinephrine? -
ANSWERSSympathetic nervous system
Gas exchange problems are typically associated with left or right-sided heart problems? - ANSWERSLeft
Right-sided heart problems: signs and symptoms: - ANSWERSa. Limbs, especially ankles and wrists
b. Jugular venous distension (JVD)
c. Hepatomegaly
d. Ascites
e. Anasarca—severe generalized peripheral edema
What does the CXR show for Right-sided heart problems? - ANSWERSFailure alone shows few if any lung
changes except those which may be present due to underlying pulmonary disease.
Left-sided heart problems: signs and symptoms: - ANSWERSa. Increased dyspnea
b. Abnormal breath sounds (rales, especially in lower and middle lung fields are most common)
c. Non-productive cough (although may be productive if pneumonia is also present)
d. Tachycardia seen in both left and right side failure
e. Decreased exercise/activity tolerance
f. Sometimes arrhythmias are seen
g. Sometimes angina is reported
