NCLEX Review & Nursing School

Heart Failure

Left Sided Heart

– Failure of the left side of the heart to pump enough blood to meet the metabolic demands of the body.

• There is an impaired oxygenation and a decrease in myocardial workload in the heart.

Assessment Findings in patients with Left Sided heart failure.

• Crackles
• Dyspnea
• Gallop Rhythm: S3, S4

What we would usually find in patient with left sided heart failure  is that there is an increase in pulmonary congestion and there would be a left ventricular hypertrophy.

Management

• Low sodium diet
• Semi Fowlers position on pt.
• Weight patient daily
• Administer IV, oxygen and meds as ordered.
• Monitor Vitals, I/O

 

 

Right Sided Failure

– Failure of the right side of the heart to pump enough blood to meet the metabolic demands of the body.

Causes:

• Left sided heart failure
• COPD
• Atherosclerosis
• Pulmonary Hypertension

 

Assessment:

• Jugular vein distention
• dependent edema
• weight edema