Congestive Heart Failure: Brief Introduction

Congestive Heart Failure is a condition or rather a syndrome, in which heart is unable to maintain adequate blood circulation in the body to meet its demand due to a problem with the structure or function of the heart.

Types:

1. Systolic:
   
   1. Low Ejection Fraction
      
   2. Due to myocardial infarction, alcohol, drug abuse
      
      
2. Diastolic:
   
   1. Normal Ejection Fraction
      
   2. Decreased ventricular compliance
      
   3. Due to long-standing hypertension
      
   4. S4 characteristic
      
      
3. High output failure:
   
   1. Ex: Thyrotoxicosis, anemia, AV fistulas, sepsis.
      
      
4. Low output failure:
   
   1. Ex: Most forms of heart diseases fall under low output failure.
      

Clinical Findings in Congestive Heart Failure
Left Ventricular Failure	Right Ventricular Failure
Dyspnea Orthopnea Paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea Frothy blood-tinged sputum Bilateral basal crackles Pulsus alternans S3 gallop	Edema of lower extremities (Gravity-dependent region) Congested liver (Nutmeg liver, cardiac cirrhosis) Distended jugular vein Hepatomegaly Pitting edema Pulsus paradoxus S3 gallop

Chest X-ray Findings

Butterfly pattern opacity around hilum, referred to as "bat wings" appearance. White horizontal lines visible as a result of interstitial edema called Kerley B lines. Enlarged heart silhouette. Prominent upper lobe vessels. Pleural effusion.