Myocardial ischemia and left ventricular failure

[MsFNP1908]

Can anyone shoot me in the right direction or explain how myocardial ischemia leads to left ventricular failure? I have to make a concept map that identifies sub-concepts and pathophysiological changes in cells, tissues, and organs. Any help would be great!!!

[ChronicUpset]

First one must understand the function and responsibility of the left ventricle. The left ventricle pumps blood through the systemic circulatory system, which is responsible for delivering O2 and nutrients to the myocardium (tissue around the heart) and removes waste. If there is a decrease in the function of the left ventricle (cannot get O2 to the myocardium) Myocardial Ischemia results when the supply of blood to the myocardium from the coronary arteries is insufficient to meet mycardial O2 demands.

I hope this can help you in someway. Others feel free to piggyback.

[Mike R, ADN, BSN, RN]

ChronicUpset addresses how ventricular failure leads to ischemia. Though the original question states "explain how myocardial ischemia leads to left ventricular failure".

Simply put, output from the heart is decreased due to myocardial eschemia but the body still has it's same circulartory requirement. The heart compensates by pumping harder and growing larger (it is a muscle after all). Most of the growth happens on the left side because it supplies systemic circulartion. After a while the heart cannot sustain the workload and poops out.

[MsFNP1908]

Thank you for your assistance this is very helpful!