Fundamentals of Critical Care Nursing (FCCN) Level 1 Practice Exam 2025 - Free FCCN Practice Questions and Study Guide

Low afterload refers to the decreased resistance the heart faces when pumping blood out of the ventricles, which can result from various physiological and pathological conditions. Sepsis is a state often characterized by systemic vasodilation due to an overwhelming infection leading to inflammatory responses. This vasodilation reduces systemic vascular resistance, thereby lowering afterload. When afterload is low, the heart has less resistance to overcome during systole, which can facilitate better cardiac output.

In contrast, conditions like hypovolemia usually result in increased afterload due to reduced blood volume. Arterial constriction would lead to increased resistance, thus raising afterload. Myocardial infarction can lead to various outcomes, but does not inherently cause low afterload; instead, it could potentially compromise heart function and increase afterload due to decreased cardiac output.

Understanding these concepts can help clarify the relationship between systemic vascular resistance, heart function, and conditions affecting afterload.