left ventricular failure

left ventricular failure

n.

Congestive heart failure marked by pulmonary congestion and edema.

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left ventricular failure,

heart failure in which the left ventricle fails to contract forcefully enough to maintain a normal cardiac output and peripheral perfusion. Pulmonary congestion and edema develop from back pressure of accumulated blood in the left ventricle. Signs include breathlessness, crackles, dyspnea, orthopnea, pallor, sweating, and peripheral vasoconstriction. The heart is usually enlarged, resulting in a displaced point of maximum impulse. A prominent third heart sound (gallop), normal in children and young adults, is a sign of left ventricular failure in older adults with heart disease. Hypertension is common and may be a causative factor or a result of pulmonary edema. Treatment includes meperidine or morphine for sedation, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors or calcium channel blockers to reduce afterload, diuretics, digitalis, and rest. See also congestive heart failure.

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left ventricular failure

Left heart failure Cardiology CHF due to insufficient output or ↑ filling pressure, resulting in pulmonary vascular congestion Clinical DOE, SOB, exercise intolerance, orthopnea, paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea, rest dyspnea, chronic cough, nocturnal urination, pulmonary congestion–rales, pleural effusion, wheezing, S3 gallop Risk factors Smoking, obesity, alcohol, high fat, high salt intake Precipitating factors HTN, heart valve disease, congenital heart diseases, cardiomyopathy, myxoma or other heart tumor, ↑ physical activity, hypervolemia, ↑ salt intake, fever or complicated infections, anemia, arrhythmias; hyperthyroidism, renal disease, drugs affecting heart contractility–eg, beta blockers, CCBs, ACE inhibitors, digoxin, diuretics. Cf Right ventricular failure.