Left Ventricular Failure

LVF occurs when the left ventricle is  unable to pump all the blood that is delivered to it by the right ventricle at a satisfactory rate. This diminishes the amount of oxygenated blood circulating around the body supplying the brain and heart itself. This inability to pump adequately Is due to damage of the heart muscle caused by myocardial infarct or atherosclerosis.

Blood backs up from the left ventricle into the left atrium causing distension and gorging of the pulmonary veins. This back-pressure causes fluid from the blood to be forced through the walls of the alveoli resulting in fluid in the lung called oedema.

The right ventricle which usually pumps blood through the lungs will experience problems due to this build up of fluid and pressure in the alveoli, and will inevitably go into failure itself. This combination of left and right ventricular failure is called complete congestive heart failure  (CCF)

Signs & Symptoms

Difficult breathing
Nosiy wheezy breathing
Tachycardia
Distended neck veins
Blood stained sputum
Lowered level of consciousness
Orthopneoea
Sweating