Anatomy subcategory

Heart Failure

Mnemonics for compensation, classification, drug therapy and cardiac output.

Entries in Heart Failure

Acute Heart Failure Management Mnemonic

Sit up, oxygen, nitrates, diuretics, and treat the cause

A mnemonic for the immediate treatment of acute pulmonary oedema.

Heart Failure
Afterload Determinants Mnemonic

Aortic pressure, systemic vascular resistance, ventricular radius and wall thickness

A memory aid for the factors setting ventricular afterload.

CardiovascularHeart Failure
Cardiac Output Determinants - PRSH Mnemonic

Preload, Rate, Stroke volume, Heart contractility

A mnemonic for the four main determinants of cardiac output.

CardiovascularHeart Failure
Cardiac Output Equation Mnemonic

Cardiac output equals heart rate multiplied by stroke volume

A memory aid for calculating cardiac output and its normal values.

CardiovascularHeart Failure
Cardiac Output Measurement Mnemonic

Fick principle, indicator dilution, thermodilution, Doppler and pulse contour analysis

A memory aid for the methods of measuring cardiac output.

CardiovascularHeart Failure
Contractility Modifiers Mnemonic

Sympathetic drive and calcium raise it; hypoxia, acidosis and beta blockade lower it

A memory aid for what increases and decreases myocardial contractility.

CardiovascularHeart Failure
Ejection Fraction Mnemonic

Stroke volume divided by end-diastolic volume, normally over 50 per cent

A memory aid for calculating and interpreting ejection fraction.

CardiovascularHeart Failure
Frank-Starling Law Mnemonic

The more the ventricle fills, the harder it contracts, within limits

A memory aid for the relationship between ventricular filling and stroke volume.

CardiovascularHeart Failure
Heart Failure Compensation Mnemonic

Sympathetic activation, renin-angiotensin activation, and ventricular remodelling

A memory aid for the compensatory mechanisms in heart failure and why they fail.

CardiovascularHeart Failure
Heart Failure Drug Therapy Mnemonic

ACE inhibitor, beta blocker, mineralocorticoid antagonist and SGLT2 inhibitor

A memory aid for the drugs that improve survival in heart failure.

Cardiovascular PharmacologyHeart Failure
High Output States Mnemonic

Anaemia, pregnancy, thyrotoxicosis, sepsis, beriberi, Paget disease and arteriovenous fistula

A mnemonic for the causes of a high output circulation.

CardiovascularHeart Failure
Law of Laplace in the Heart Mnemonic

Wall stress equals pressure times radius divided by twice the wall thickness

A memory aid for how chamber size and wall thickness affect wall stress.

CardiovascularHeart Failure
Left Versus Right Heart Failure Mnemonic

Left failure causes pulmonary congestion; right failure causes systemic congestion

A memory aid for distinguishing left from right heart failure.

CardiovascularHeart Failure
Natriuretic Peptides Mnemonic

Released by stretched myocardium; they oppose the renin-angiotensin system

A memory aid for the actions of atrial and brain natriuretic peptide.

CardiovascularCardiac and Vascular Testing
New York Heart Association Classification Mnemonic

Four classes, graded by the activity that causes symptoms

A memory aid for grading the functional severity of heart failure.

Heart Failure
Preload Determinants Mnemonic

Venous return, venous tone, blood volume, atrial contraction, heart rate and compliance

A memory aid for the factors setting ventricular preload.

CardiovascularHeart Failure
Pulmonary Oedema Physiology Mnemonic

Raised hydrostatic pressure or increased permeability floods the interstitium then alveoli

A memory aid for the mechanisms of pulmonary oedema.

RespiratoryHeart Failure