backward heart failure

failure /fail·ure/ (fāl´yer) inability to perform or to function properly.

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acute congestive heart failure  rapidly occurring cardiac output deficiency marked by venocapillary congestion, hypertension, and edema.

backward heart failure  a concept of heart failure emphasizing the causative contribution of passive engorgement of the systemic venous system, as a result of dysfunction in a ventricle and subsequent pressure increase behind it.

bone marrow failure  failure of the hematopoietic function of the bone marrow.

congestive heart failure  (CHF) that characterized by breathlessness and abnormal sodium and water retention, resulting in edema, with congestion of the lungs or peripheral circulation, or both.

diastolic heart failure  heart failure due to a defect in ventricular filling caused by an abnormality in diastolic function.

forward heart failure  a concept of heart failure that emphasizes the inadequacy of cardiac output relative to body needs and considers venous distention as secondary.

heart failure  inability of the heart to pump blood at a rate adequate to fill tissue metabolic requirements or the ability to do so only at an elevated filling pressure; defined clinically as a syndrome of ventricular dysfunction with reduced exercise capacity and other characteristic hemodynamic, renal, neural, and hormonal responses.

high-output heart failure  that in which cardiac output remains high; associated with hyperthyroidism, anemia, arteriovenous fistulas, beriberi, osteitis deformans, or sepsis.

kidney failure  renal f.

left-sided heart failure , left ventricular failure failure of adequate output by the left ventricle, marked by pulmonary congestion and edema.

low-output heart failure  that in which cardiac output is decreased, as in most forms of heart disease, leading to manifestations of impaired peripheral circulation and vasoconstriction.

premature ovarian failure  premature menopause.

renal failure  inability of the kidney to excrete metabolites at normal plasma levels under normal loading, or inability to retain electrolytes when intake is normal; in the acute form, marked by uremia and usually by oliguria, with hyperkalemia and pulmonary edema.

right-sided heart failure , right ventricular failure failure of adequate output by the right ventricle, marked by venous engorgement, hepatic enlargement, and pitting edema.

systolic heart failure  heart failure due to a defect in the expulsion of blood that is caused by an abnormality in systolic function.

failure to thrive  physical and developmental retardation in infants and small children, sometimes from physical illness and sometimes from psychosocial effects such as maternal deprivation.

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back·ward heart failure (bkwrd)

n.

Congestive heart failure resulting from passive engorgement of the veins caused by a rise in pressure near the failing cardiac chambers.

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heart failure (härt´ fālyur),

n a sudden, sometimes fatal, cessation of the heart's action.

heart failure, acute,

n a rapid and marked impairment of the cardiac output.

heart failure, backward,

n a type of congestive heart failure in which the initiating factor is increased venous pressure resulting from ventricular failure to empty the atria.

heart failure, congestive,

n a clinical syndrome resulting from chronic cardiac decompensation associated with left-sided or right-sided heart failure. Left-sided failure may result from rheumatic mitral valvular disease, aortic valvular disease, systemic hypertension, or arteriosclerotic disease. Manifestations include orthopnea, paroxysmal dyspnea, pulmonary edema, cough, and cardiac asthma. Right-sided failure results most commonly from pulmonary congestion and hypertension associated with left-sided failure but may result from anemia, myocarditis, beriberi, or dysrhythmia. Manifestations include peripheral pitting edema, ascites, cyanosis, oliguria, and hydrothorax.

heart failure, forward,

n a type of heart failure initiated by decreased cardiac output that leads to de-creased blood supply to tissues, decreased excretion of salt (Na1) and salt retention, elevated venous pressure, and edema.

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heart failure

inability of the heart to maintain a circulation sufficient to meet the body's needs; most often applied to myocardial failure affecting the right or left ventricle.

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acute heart failure

sudden cardiac arrest such as occurs in anesthetic death and cardiac myopathy of various kinds. It causes death by acute anoxia of tissues especially brain. The clinical syndrome varies between a brief convulsion and the development of pulmonary edema.

backward heart failure

a concept of heart failure emphasizing the contribution of passive engorgement of the systemic venous system as a cause.

congestive heart failure (CHF)

that which occurs as a result of impaired pumping capability of the heart and is associated with abnormal retention of water and sodium. The condition ranges from mild congestion with few symptoms to life-threatening fluid overload and total heart failure.

CHF results in an inadequate supply of blood and oxygen to the body's cells. The decreased cardiac output causes an increase in the blood volume within the vascular system. Congestion within the blood vessels interferes with the movement of body fluids in and out of the various fluid compartments, and they accumulate in the tissue spaces, causing edema.

There are three general kinds of pathological conditions that can bring about CHF: (1) ventricular failure, in which the contractions of the ventricles become weak and ineffective, as in myocardial ischemia from coronary artery disease; (2) mechanical failure of the ventricles to fill with blood during the diastole phase of the cardiac cycle, which can occur when the mitral valve is narrowed or when there is an accumulation of fluid within the pericardial sac (cardiac tamponade) pressing against the ventricles, preventing them from accepting a full load of blood; and (3) an overload of blood in the ventricles during the systole phase of the cycle. High blood pressure, aortic stenosis and aortic valvular regurgitation are some of the conditions that can cause ventricular overload.

decompensated heart failure

see congestive heart failure (above).

forward heart failure

a concept of heart failure emphasizing the inadequacy of cardiac output as the primary cause and considering venous distention to be secondary.

high output heart failure

that in which cardiac output remains high, associated with anemia, emphysema, etc.

left-sided heart failure, left ventricular heart failure

failure of the left ventricle to maintain a normal output of blood. Since the left ventricle does not empty completely, it cannot accept blood returning from the lungs via the pulmonary veins. The pulmonary veins become engorged and fluid seeps out through the veins and collects in the pleural cavity. Pulmonary edema and pleural effusion result. In many cases heart failure begins on the left side and eventually involves both sides of the heart.

low-output heart failure

that in which cardiac output is diminished, associated with cardiovascular diseases.

right-sided heart failure, right ventricular heart failure

failure of proper functioning of the right ventricle, with subsequent engorgement of the systemic veins, producing pitting edema, enlargement of the liver, and ascites.