Case Study # 3 Maddie, an 87-year-old female, goes to the doctor because of edem
ID: 3506530 • Letter: C
Question
Case Study # 3 Maddie, an 87-year-old female, goes to the doctor because of edema in her feet and ankles. She also reports that lately she had become increasingly tired. The doctor reports that Maddie has heart failure due to venous congestion 1. How did the venous congestion (build-up of blood in vessels) cause lower limb edema? 2. To treat Maddie the doctor prescribes a drug that increases increases the contractility of the heart muscle as well as loop diuretic -is this treatment appropriate? Why or why not?Explanation / Answer
Case Study 3
1. Edema is retention of fluid in the extracellular compartment. Increased blood presure inside the vein causes increased hydrostatic pressure in the vein. Salt and water come out of the vessel into the intercellular space. Although edema can affect any part of tthe body, it mostly affects hands, legs,ankles and feet as these parts are directed towards gravity. Because of dysfunctioning of venous musculature or compression, backing up of blood that passes through the veins to heart occurs causing swelling of these areas.
2. Loop diuretics are drugs that that inhibits reabsorption of water and sodium from the loop of Henle. As a result of which sodium and water is excreted causing lowering of blood volume and blood pressure. Loop diuretics are most effective in unloading sodium and water than other diuretics. But is has some side - effects also like -
dizziness due to low blood pressure, low sodium and potassium in blood, muscle cramps etc.They may cause irregular heart beat and kidney failure. So, it should be given in proper dosage with accurate duration after checking the physiological condition of the patient.
Case Study 4
1. PR interval represents the onset of atrial depolarization to the onset of ventricular depolarization. During this phase atrial depolarization occurs and the impulse is conducted from atrium to AV node. Then from there, through His- Purkinje system to the ventricle.
Prolonged PR interval means delayed conduction od SA nodal impulse to ventricles.
2. The pathway that is damaged in this case may be the AV node, the Bundle of His or both the right and left branches of the Bundle of His.