Left-Sided vs Right-Sided Heart Failure

Fluid backs up into the pulmonary vessels

Left-sided heart failure

Fluid backs up into the systemic venous system

Right-sided heart failure

Most common form of heart failure

Left-sided heart failure

Most common cause is left-sided heart failure

Right-sided heart failure

Dyspnea

Left-sided heart failure

Rales and crackles

Left-sided heart failure

Orthopnea

Left-sided heart failure

Nocturnal dyspnea and nocturia

Left-sided heart failure

Nagging cough with pink, frothy sputum

Left-sided heart failure

Weakness and fatigue

Left-sided heart failure

Increased heart rate

Left-sided heart failure

Weight gain

Left-sided heart failure

Liver swelling (hepatomegaly)

Right-sided heart failure

Pitting edema

Right-sided heart failure

Large neck veins (jugular venous distention)

Right-sided heart failure

Ascites and increased abdominal girth

Right-sided heart failure

Nausea and anorexia

Right-sided heart failure

Lethargy and fatigue

Right-sided heart failure

Irregular heartbeat

Right-sided heart failure

Reduced ejection fraction due to inability of the left ventricle to empty during systole

Systolic left-sided heart failure (HFrEF)

Preserved ejection fraction due to inability of the left ventricle to relax and fill during diastole

Diastolic left-sided heart failure (HFpEF)

Daily weights, strict intake and output, vital signs, lung and heart sounds, edema and JVD assessment

HF nursing monitoring

Report weight gain of 3 lb in 2 days or 5 lb in 1 week

HF patient education

Sodium restriction of 2 g/day

HF dietary management

Fluid restriction of 2 L/day with moderate-to-severe heart failure and renal insufficiency

HF dietary management