Cardiac Output
| Position | Cardiac output is lowest supine (the uterus compresses the inferior vena cava) and highest in left lateral | Supine hypotensive syndrome: examine and rest the woman tilted to the left |
What our notes say
- | Position | Cardiac output is lowest supine (the uterus compresses the inferior vena cava) and highest in left lateral | Supine hypotensive syndrome: examine and rest the woman tilted to the left | (Physiological changes in pregnancy)
- The five basic mechanisms by which Cardiac output can be adjusted are - (Cardiovascular system examination revised 2012 — Past Paper Questions & Answers)
- Ventricular fibrillation [erratic line, ventricles are quivering, no pumping action, cardiac output is 0] (H2Tassessment — Past Paper Questions & Answers)
- Increased cardiac output causing greater red cell destruction (Junior Clerkship in Reproductive Health (MBOG 4200): end of year examination, 4 )
- Low cardiac output: heart failure, myocardial infarction, arrhythmias, cardiac tamponade, pulmonary embolism. (Junior Clerkship in Internal Medicine (MBIM4100) main exam, Paper One: 31 Januar)
- Cardiac output rises through pregnancy, climbs further during labour, and peaks just after delivery when the contracted uterus returns about 500 ml of blood to the circulation. (Obstetrics II CAT: miscarriage, pregnancy physiology and antenatal care, 26 MCQs)
Study material on Cardiac Output
- Medical Physiology Assorted SAQs — With Answers (Past Paper Study Guide)
- Cardiovascular system examination revised 2012
- KIDNEY FUNCTION TESTS & GASTRIC FUNCTION
- Medical Physiology Pp2 Year 2
Practice questions on Cardiac Output
A 44-year-old man has a history of poorly controlled diabetes mellitus leading to coronary artery disease. He now has decreasing cardiac output. An increase in which of the following substances in his blood is most indicative of reversible cell injury from decreased perfusion of multiple organs and tissues?
- Carbon dioxide
- Creatinine
- Glucose
- Lactic acid
- Troponin I ANSWER: D
Answer: D. Decreased tissue perfusion leads to hypoxemia and depletion of ATP when cell metabolism shifts from aerobic to anaerobic glycolysis, resulting in depletion of glycogen stores and increased production and accumulation of lactic acid, reducing intracellular pH. ---