Management of heart failure

Heart failure is an increasingly common syndrome, which is associated with a high 1-year mortality and significant morbidity. Currently ischaemic heart disease is the most common cause in western societies but the majority of causes produce a similar clinical picture of reduced cardiac output, salt...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Current anaesthesia & critical care 2001-10, Vol.12 (5), p.273-280
Main Authors: Hobbs, W.J.C., Cotter, L.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
classification
drugs
failure, congestive heart
inotropic agents, positive cardiac
investigation
therapeutics
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Summary:Heart failure is an increasingly common syndrome, which is associated with a high 1-year mortality and significant morbidity. Currently ischaemic heart disease is the most common cause in western societies but the majority of causes produce a similar clinical picture of reduced cardiac output, salt and water retention and peripheral vasoconstriction. Advances in the understanding of the pathophysiology of heart failure have lead to an alteration in the way in which it is managed and the development of different models of heart failure. Salt and water retention is managed with the use of fluid restriction and diuretics. Inotropic therapy remains useful in the short-term management of heart failure when acute decompensation leads to critical hypoperfusion of vital organs. Finally the maladaptive neurohumoral activation found in heart failure can be antagonised by the use of beta-blockers, angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors and spironolactone, all of which reduce mortality and improve symptoms.
ISSN:0953-7112
1532-2033
DOI:10.1054/cacc.2000.0304