Heart Stressure Case Study: The Pathophysiology Of Heart Failure

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Heart failure is The pathophysiology of heart failure is that there is not enough force to circulate blood to perfuse the tissues adequately (McCance, 2014). There can be a left sided heart failure or right sided heart failure. Left sided heart failure can either have reduced or preserved ejection fraction, which is a measurement of how well the heart pumps (McCance, 2014). Left sided heart failure is how well the heart is able to pump blood away from the heart, right sided is how well the blood is pumped back through the heart after perfusion. In the case study that is presented, the condition that is affecting the patient, Mr. T is experiencing is total heart failure. According to the Mayo Clinic, left sided heart failure symptoms relate to pulmonary fluid, that causes shortness of air (2015). The right sided symptoms are associated …show more content…

The sodium is low, normal range for sodium is 135-145, the patient is 131. The low sodium could account for the kidneys retaining water and salt from the activation of the RAAS directed related to the decreased blood flow to the kidneys (McCance, 2014). The BUN is high, normal range 7-22, that patient is 50. The creatine is elevated as well, 2.3, normal range is 0.8-1.4. Creatnine and BUN are indicative of kidney injury (McCance, 2014). "Creatnine level usually increases with decreased renal blood flow" (McCance, 2014, p.1361). Glucose is slightly increased at 131, with less than 120 expected. McCance describes insulin resistance as a contributor and complication of heart failure (2014). "Insulin resistance causes abnormal myocyte fatty acid metabolism and generation of ATP, which contributes to decreased myocardial contractility and remodeling." (McCance, 2014, p. 1178). The effect of the decreased contractibility is that the heart is not able to contract or pump adequately. The increased glucose could be indicative of insulin

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