Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 5, 2026
07:27
Implantation of Total Artificial Heart in Congenital Heart Disease
Published on: July 18, 2014
Hypocalcemic congestive heart failure
Southern Medical Journal
|March 1, 1987
Insights
Severe hypocalcemia, a condition of low serum calcium, can cause congestive heart failure in individuals with healthy hearts. Improving calcium levels effectively resolved the heart failure symptoms in this patient.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Endocrinology
- Internal Medicine
Background:
- Congestive heart failure (CHF) is a complex syndrome with various etiologies.
- Hypocalcemia, or low serum calcium levels, can manifest with diverse clinical symptoms.
Observation:
- A case study detailing a patient presenting with congestive heart failure.
- The patient exhibited concurrent severe hypocalcemia.
Findings:
- A direct correlation was observed between elevated serum calcium levels and the improvement of heart failure symptoms.
- The study suggests that severe hypocalcemia can precipitate congestive heart failure in an otherwise healthy heart.
Implications:
- Highlights a potential, often overlooked, cause of heart failure.
- Emphasizes the importance of assessing calcium levels in patients with unexplained heart failure.
- Suggests therapeutic interventions targeting calcium levels may resolve CHF in specific cases.
Abstract:
We have described a patient who had congestive heart failure associated with hypocalcemia. The heart failure improved as the serum calcium increased. We conclude that severe hypocalcemia may produce congestive failure in the normal heart.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:17Pathophysiology of Heart Failure
Heart failure (HF) is a progressive syndrome involving ventricles that leads to inadequate cardiac output. It can be classified based on location and output or ejection fraction. Ejection fraction (EF) is an essential measurement in the diagnosis and surveillance of HF. Reduced EF corresponds to systolic heart failure (HFrEF). However, HF with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is becoming increasingly prevalent. Also known as diastolic HF, this form of HF is related to aging. The...
01:26Imbalances in Cardiac Output
The heart's primary function is to pump blood throughout the body, maintaining a balance between blood sent out (cardiac output) and blood returning (venous return). If this balance is disrupted, it can result in congestive heart failure (CHF), a severe condition where the heart becomes an inefficient pump, leading to inadequate blood circulation.
CHF can occur due to the failure of either side of the heart. Left-side failure leads to pulmonary congestion—the right side continues to send blood...
CHF can occur due to the failure of either side of the heart. Left-side failure leads to pulmonary congestion—the right side continues to send blood...
01:27Heart Failure I: Introduction
Heart failure refers to a clinical syndrome caused by structural or functional cardiac disorders that prevent the heart from pumping an adequate amount of blood to meet the body's metabolic needs. This condition often arises from myocardial infarction or ischemia, leading to decreased cardiac output, reduced tissue perfusion, impaired gas exchange, fluid volume imbalance, and decreased functional ability.Heart failure can result from disruptions in the mechanisms that regulate cardiac output...
01:26Heart Failure III: Clinical Manifestations
Heart failure (HF) manifests primarily as dyspnea, fatigue, and fluid retention, resulting in peripheral and pulmonary edema. Symptoms may vary depending on which ventricle is more affected, left or right.Left-Sided Heart FailureAlso known as left ventricular failure, this condition results from the left ventricle's inability to fill or eject sufficient blood into the systemic circulation. It leads to pulmonary congestion, which occurs when the left ventricle fails to eject blood effectively...
01:30Heart Failure VII: Nursing Interventions
The first step in nursing management of a patient with heart failure involves thoroughly assessing the patient's medical history.Subjective Data: Obtain the patient's medical history of coronary artery disease, hypertension, myocardial infarction, and symptoms like dyspnea, orthopnea, and paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea.Objective Data: Conduct a physical examination to identify findings such as jugular vein distention, pulmonary crackles, tachycardia, murmurs, peripheral edema, and vital signs,...
01:30Cardiomyopathy II: Dilated Cardiomyopathy
Dilated cardiomyopathy, or DCM, is a progressive myocardial disorder characterized by ventricular chamber dilation and contractile dysfunction.EtiologyVarious factors can cause DCM, including hypertension and heavy alcohol intake, which contribute to the weakening and enlargement of the heart muscle. Viral infections, such as Coxsackievirus B, adenoviruses, and influenza, can lead to DCM by causing inflammation and damage to heart tissue. Certain chemotherapeutic agents, including daunorubicin,...