CARDIOPULMONARY – CARDIOPATHOLOGY SUMMARY LATEST EPISODE
SUMMARIES UPDATED FOR 2025 – GUARANTEED PASS
What is the definition of heart failure?
heart is diseased, all compensatory mechanisms are exhausted, and the heart is unable to meet
the demands of the body
What are the 2 major consequences of heart failure?
diminished cardiac output, damming back of blood in the venous system
What are the 2 pathologic compensatory mechanisms of heart failure?
cardiac dilation and hypertrophy
What are the 3 physiologic compensatory mechanisms of heart failure?
increased HR, increased blood volume, increased peripheral resistance with redistribution of
blood flow
What compensatory mechanism of the heart is seen with acute volume overload?
ventricular dilation
What causes acute volume overload?
AKI, liver disease, iatrogenic fluid overload, medications
What compensatory mechanism of the heart is seen with chronic volume overload?
ventricular dilation plus eccentric hypertrophy
What causes chronic volume overload?
valvular insufficiency, congenital defects
What compensatory mechanism of the heart is seen with pressure overload?
concentric hypertrophy
What causes pressure overload?
systemic hypertension, stenotic valve, pulmonary hypertension
What are the characteristic lesions of acute heart failure?
weakness, syncope, sudden unexpected death, minimal to no lesions
What are the characteristic lesions of congestive heart failure?
, vascular congestion and edema
What are the characteristic lesions of left-sided heart failure?
pulmonary edema in all species plus pleural effusion in cats
What are the characteristic lesions of right-sided heart failure?
chronic passive congestion of the liver, body cavity effusions, subcutaneous edema
What is cor pulmonale?
right heart failure secondary to pulmonary disease
In ruminants, edema secondary to R sided CHF tend to accumulate in:
dependent subcutaneous tissues
In horses, edema secondary to R sided CHF tend to accumulate in:
dependent subcutaneous tissues
In dogs, edema secondary to R sided CHF tend to accumulate in:
peritoneal cavity
In cats, edema secondary to R sided CHF tend to accumulate in:
pleural cavity
Describe the lesions associated with left sided CHF:
heavy and wet lungs, heart failure cells in lungs
What are heart failure cells?
macrophages filled with hemosiderin in lungs
Describe the lesions associated with chronic passive congestion?
accentuated lobular pattern of liver, congested and dark red spleen
What are the types of congenital anomalies of the heart?
ventricular septal defect, atrial septal defect, PDA, pulmonic/aortic stenosis, PRAA, tetralogy of
Fallot, ALCAPA
What is the most common congenital anomaly of the heart among all species?
ventricular septal defect
SUMMARIES UPDATED FOR 2025 – GUARANTEED PASS
What is the definition of heart failure?
heart is diseased, all compensatory mechanisms are exhausted, and the heart is unable to meet
the demands of the body
What are the 2 major consequences of heart failure?
diminished cardiac output, damming back of blood in the venous system
What are the 2 pathologic compensatory mechanisms of heart failure?
cardiac dilation and hypertrophy
What are the 3 physiologic compensatory mechanisms of heart failure?
increased HR, increased blood volume, increased peripheral resistance with redistribution of
blood flow
What compensatory mechanism of the heart is seen with acute volume overload?
ventricular dilation
What causes acute volume overload?
AKI, liver disease, iatrogenic fluid overload, medications
What compensatory mechanism of the heart is seen with chronic volume overload?
ventricular dilation plus eccentric hypertrophy
What causes chronic volume overload?
valvular insufficiency, congenital defects
What compensatory mechanism of the heart is seen with pressure overload?
concentric hypertrophy
What causes pressure overload?
systemic hypertension, stenotic valve, pulmonary hypertension
What are the characteristic lesions of acute heart failure?
weakness, syncope, sudden unexpected death, minimal to no lesions
What are the characteristic lesions of congestive heart failure?
, vascular congestion and edema
What are the characteristic lesions of left-sided heart failure?
pulmonary edema in all species plus pleural effusion in cats
What are the characteristic lesions of right-sided heart failure?
chronic passive congestion of the liver, body cavity effusions, subcutaneous edema
What is cor pulmonale?
right heart failure secondary to pulmonary disease
In ruminants, edema secondary to R sided CHF tend to accumulate in:
dependent subcutaneous tissues
In horses, edema secondary to R sided CHF tend to accumulate in:
dependent subcutaneous tissues
In dogs, edema secondary to R sided CHF tend to accumulate in:
peritoneal cavity
In cats, edema secondary to R sided CHF tend to accumulate in:
pleural cavity
Describe the lesions associated with left sided CHF:
heavy and wet lungs, heart failure cells in lungs
What are heart failure cells?
macrophages filled with hemosiderin in lungs
Describe the lesions associated with chronic passive congestion?
accentuated lobular pattern of liver, congested and dark red spleen
What are the types of congenital anomalies of the heart?
ventricular septal defect, atrial septal defect, PDA, pulmonic/aortic stenosis, PRAA, tetralogy of
Fallot, ALCAPA
What is the most common congenital anomaly of the heart among all species?
ventricular septal defect
