Circulatory failure is most often the result of an abnormal heart function. Its dysfunction may lead to ischemia of organs, and further to their failure, or to pulmonary edema, which is a life-threatening condition. What are the causes and symptoms of heart failure? How is the treatment going?

Circulatory failureis a condition in which the organs receive an insufficient amount of blood supplied with oxygen. The circulatory failure is most often the result of abnormal heart function (circulatory failure of cardiac origin), although sometimes the causes of circulatory failure are not related to the functioning of this organ (peripheral circulatory failure). Depending on the speed of symptom build-up, it is distinguished byacute(sudden and rapidly progressive) andchronic(gradually increasing)circulatory failure .

Circulatory failure - what are the functions of the left and right ventricles?

The left ventricle pumps oxygen-rich blood through the main artery (aorta) and then through progressively smaller vessels to all organs of the body. The deoxygenated blood then returns through the superior and inferior vena cava (which collect oxygen-poor blood from the rest of the body) to the right ventricle. This pump pumps blood to the pulmonary trunk and further into the lung vessels to be saturated with oxygen. Then the oxygenated blood is directed towards the left ventricle.

If the left ventricle is not working properly, blood output to the aorta is reduced, which can lead to organ ischemia. In turn, the failure of the right ventricle means that it is unable to collect deoxygenated blood, therefore there is a retention of blood, and thus - an increase in pressure in the pulmonary circulation.

Circulatory failure - causes

The most common causes of abnormal heartbeat are:

  • ischemic heart disease (coronary artery disease), infarction (damage or loss of part of the heart muscle)
  • hypertension (then the vascular resistance is increased)
  • cardiomyopathies (heart muscle disease)
  • congenital or acquired heart defects
  • drugs (e.g. antiarrhythmic or cytotoxic drugs)
  • toxins (e.g. alcohol, cocaine)
  • systemic diseases, e.g. diabetes, hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism, phaeochromocytoma,chronic lung diseases (asthma, chronic bronchitis), anemia, heart cancer
  • improper diet (e.g. vitamin B1 deficiency)

Circulatory failure of peripheral origin may be the result of haemorrhage, dehydration, septic shock.

Circulatory failure - symptoms

Forleft ventricular failurethe following is characteristic:

  • fatigue (related to muscle ischemia)
  • shortness of breath (it is the result of worse perception of oxygen-rich blood from the pulmonary circulation) - initially it occurs during exercise, later also at rest (then it intensifies when lying down, and disappears when changing the position to sitting or standing)
  • cyanosis (as a result of insufficient or lack of oxygen in the blood)

In addition, in the case of heart ischemia, the patient experiences coronary pains (chest pains), and in the case of cerebral ischemia, the patient may become unconscious, faint or faint.

In the case ofright ventricular failuresymptoms of blood stagnation in the body appear:

  • swelling (especially of the lower limbs - around the ankles and lower legs)
  • enlargement of the trunk circumference - associated with the accumulation of fluid in the liver and peritoneal cavity. This condition is associated with distressing pain in the upper abdomen, especially under the right costal arch
  • widening of the jugular veins
  • nocturia, i.e. frequent urination at night
  • digestive system problems resulting from blood stagnation in the abdominal organs (flatulence, nausea, constipation or diarrhea)
Important

Acute circulatory failure as a life-threatening condition

In the course of acute heart failure, the so-called shock, i.e. sudden ischemia of organs such as the heart, kidneys and brain, which is associated with a high risk of sudden death. Acute heart failure can also lead to pulmonary edema, which is also a direct life threat.

Circulatory failure - diagnosis

In the case of suspicion of circulatory failure, a number of tests are carried out, including:

  • blood test
  • electrocardiogram
  • Chest X-ray
  • echocardiography

as well as invasive tests, incl. cardiac catheterization and angiographic examination of the coronary vessels.

Circulatory failure - treatment

Treatment of heart failure depends on the cause of this condition. In the case of heart failure, the most commonly administered drugs include: convertase inhibitors, diuretics, glycosides, betablockers. Often, an operation is also needed - angioplasty, bypass surgery or surgery on the heart valves.

Category:

Cardiology