CHF Questions

Heart failure is best defined as:

• Inability of the heart to pump blood effectively without elevated filling pressure

• Failure of the lungs to oxygenate blood

• Reduced blood pressure due to vasodilation

• Excess cardiac output

Cardiac output is calculated as:

Which parameter represents myocardial stretch at the end of diastole?

• Afterload

• Contractility

• Preload

• Cardiac index

Afterload refers to:

• Myocardial oxygen demand

• Ventricular filling pressure

• Resistance against which the ventricle pumps

• Heart rate

Ejection fraction is defined as:

• Amount of blood returning to the heart

• Percent of blood pumped out of ventricles per beat

• Amount of blood remaining in ventricle

• Cardiac output per minute

Common causes of heart failure include (select all that apply):

• Coronary artery disease

• Hypertension

• Valvular disease

• Persistent arrhythmias

The most common cause of heart failure is:

• Hypertension

• Coronary artery disease

• Valvular disease

• Congenital heart disease

Activation of which two systems plays a major role in heart failure pathophysiology?

• SNS and RAAS

• GI and CNS

• RAAS and immune system

• Thyroid and adrenal axis

Compensatory mechanisms in heart failure include (select all that apply):

• Increased SNS activity

• Activation of RAAS

• Ventricular remodeling

• Increased natriuretic peptides

Why are compensatory mechanisms detrimental long term?

• Increase myocardial workload

• Improve contractility

• Reduce preload

• Improve oxygen delivery