Heart Failure

What this unit covers

This unit sits in the Cardiovascular Medicine strand of Internal medicine, pathology and clinical semiology. Most of what is listed is mind maps, with quizzes, flashcard decks, notes and a flowchart alongside them.

The maps start with the basics. Congestive heart failure maps cover risk factors, classification, high and low output, systolic and diastolic failure, acute and chronic forms, and compensatory mechanisms. Others split the topic into left-sided and right-sided failure, with causes such as ischaemic heart disease and systemic hypertension.

Where to start

1. Open the Congestive heart Failure mind map for the big picture: definitions, types and risk factors.
2. Read the CHF map for the New York Heart Association classification, signs and common medications, including loop diuretics, aldosterone antagonists, digoxin and ACEI/ARB.
3. Work through the Heart Failure Review flashcards on left ventricular reduced and preserved ejection fraction and remodelling.
4. Move on to the Systems Pathology: Heart Failure deck for the class I to IV questions.

Acute and chronic care

The ACUTE DECOMPENSATED HF ADHF mind map covers signs and symptoms, risks, diagnosis using the ADHF quadrants, BNP levels, oxygen saturation, loop diuretics, vasodilators and inotropes. Forester Hemodynamic Subsets and Therapy maps link the haemodynamic picture to treatment. Heart Failure (med) 2 sets out management: reversing causes, education, drugs, device therapy, cardiac resynchronisation, surgery and transplant.

Using quizzes and maps together

Read a map first, then test yourself. The ADHF quiz and the quiz on decompensated heart failure fit well after the acute maps. HF Therapeutics suits the management maps. Titles such as Acute heart failure and Chronic heart failure and heart transplant split the topic in the same way. If a question surprises you, return to the matching map and add a note.

Teachers can set a map as pre-reading and use a quiz as a quick check in class. Whatever your role, pick one resource and start there.