CONGESTIVE HEART FAILURE

Course overview

CONGESTIVE HEART FAILURE (CHF) IS A COMPLEX CLINICAL SYNDROME CHARACTERIZED BY INEFFICIENT MYOCARDIAL PERFORMANCE, RESULTING IN COMPROMISED BLOOD SUPPLY TO THE BODY. CHF RESULTS FROM ANY DISORDER THAT IMPAIRS VENTRICULAR FILLING OR EJECTION OF BLOOD TO THE SYSTEMIC CIRCULATION. PATIENTS USUALLY PRESENT WITH FATIGUE AND DYSPNEA, REDUCED EXERCISE TOLERANCE, AND SYSTEMIC OR PULMONARY CONGESTION. THE ETIOLOGY OF HF IS VARIABLE AND EXTENSIVE. A COMPREHENSIVE ASSESSMENT IS REQUIRED WHEN EVALUATING A PATIENT WITH HF. THE GENERAL MANAGEMENT AIMS AT RELIEVING SYSTEMIC AND PULMONARY CONGESTION AND STABILIZATION OF HEMODYNAMIC STATUS, REGARDLESS OF THE CAUSE. THIS ACTIVITY REVIEWS THE EVALUATION AND MANAGEMENT OF CONGESTIVE HEART FAILURE AND HIGHLIGHTS THE ROLE OF THE HEALTHCARE TEAM IN IMPROVING CARE FOR PATIENTS WITH THIS CONDITION.