Cardiovascular Disorders: Heart Failure, Coronary Artery Disease, and Aortic Aneurysms

Vocabulary flashcards covering pathophysiology, manifestations, and treatments for heart failure, coronary artery disease, and aortic aneurysms.

Heart Failure

The inability of the heart to provide sufficient blood to meet the oxygen needs of the body's tissues and organs, developing due to myocardial insult.

Cardiac Output

The volume of blood pumped by the heart per minute, calculated as $CO = SV \times HR$, with a normal value of $4\text{--}8$.

Stroke Volume

The amount of blood pumped per heartbeat, which depends on preload, afterload, myocardial contractility, and heart rate.

Ejection Fraction

The percentage of total blood volume in the left ventricle at the end of diastole that is pumped out of the left ventricle with the next systole.

Heart Failure with Reduced Ejection Fraction (HFrEF)

A defect in ventricular systolic function where the left ventricle cannot contract effectively, characterized by an ejection fraction generally $<40\%$ (normal is $55\%\text{--}65\%$).

Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction (HFpEF)

A heart failure condition resulting from the inability of the ventricles to relax and fill during diastole due to a stiff and noncompliant left ventricle, while maintaining a normal ejection fraction.

Right-Sided Heart Failure

A condition where the right ventricle does not pump effectively, causing fluid to back up into the venous system and resulting in peripheral edema, abdominal ascites, hepatomegaly, and jugular venous distention.

Acute Decompensated Heart Failure (ADHF)

A sudden increase in heart failure symptoms accompanied by decreased functional status, presenting signs related to pulmonary congestion and volume overload such as interstitial and alveolar edema.

Left Ventricular Assist Device (LVAD)

A mechanical circulatory support device used in end-stage heart failure to assist the left ventricle in pumping blood.

Coronary Artery Disease (CAD)

A blood vessel disorder in the category of atherosclerosis that is the leading cause of death in the United States.

Atherosclerosis Progression Stages

The developmental pathway of coronary artery disease comprising chronic endothelial injury, fatty streak formation, fibrous plaque development, and complicated lesion formation.

Collateral Circulation

Arterial connections or anastomoses within the coronary circulation that develop over time in response to chronic ischemia to maintain blood flow around blocked vessels.

Aortic Aneurysm

A permanent, localized outpouching or dilation of the arterial vessel wall.

Aortic Aneurysm Classifications

The structural categories of vessel wall dilations, including true aneurysms (fusiform and saccular) and false aneurysms (pseudoaneurysms).

Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm (TAA)

An aneurysm located in the thoracic aorta, often asymptomatic but capable of causing deep interscapular chest pain, angina, TIAs, coughing, dyspnea, hoarseness, dysphagia, or jugular venous distention.

Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA)

An aneurysm occurring in the abdominal section of the aorta, often presenting as a pulsatile abdominal mass, bruit, back pain, epigastric discomfort, altered bowel elimination, or intermittent claudication.

Grey Turner Sign

Flank ecchymosis indicative of retroperitoneal bleeding following the rupture of an aortic aneurysm.

Endovascular Aneurysm Repair (EVAR)

A surgical procedure recommended for aortic aneurysms measuring $5.5\,cm$ or larger, where endoleak is a common complication.

Abdominal Compartment Syndrome

A lethal complication associated with intraabdominal hypertension (IAH) following surgical repair of an aortic aneurysm.