Pediatric Nursing Demystified

(^94) Pediatric Nursing Demystified
The cause of congestive heart failure (CHF) can be classified as follows:
Volume overload
Pressure overload
Decreased contractility
High cardiac output demands

Signs and Symptoms

The signs and symptoms of CHF can be placed in three categories:

1. Impaired myocardial function
   Tachycardia
   Diaphoresis
   Poor perfusion


2. Pulmonary congestion
   Tachypnea

2

Inferior vena cava

8 mm Hg

78%

Pulmonary

veins

9 mm Hg

95%

Pulmonary

artery

25/15 mm Hg

72%–80%

Superior

vena cava Aorta

115/80 mm Hg 95%

RA

3 mm Hg

72%–80%

RV

25/0–5 mm Hg

72%–80%

LA

5–10 mm Hg

95%

LV

120/0–10 mm Hg

95%

FIGURE 6-2B