HIGH-OUTPUT CARDIAC FAILURE

Course overview

HIGH-OUTPUT CARDIAC FAILURE IS A LESS COMMON FORM OF HEART FAILURE, AND ALTHOUGH IT MAY SOUND CONTRADICTORY AT FIRST, IN THE SIMPLEST FORM, IT IS STILL THE HEART'S INABILITY TO PROVIDE SUFFICIENT BLOOD FOR THE BODY'S DEMAND. MOST PATIENTS WITH HEART FAILURE ARE EITHER CLASSIFIED AS A SYSTOLIC OR DIASTOLIC DYSFUNCTION WITH INCREASED SYSTEMIC VASCULAR RESISTANCE, HOWEVER, PATIENTS WITH HIGH OUTPUT CARDIAC FAILURE HAVE NORMAL CARDIAC FUNCTION AND DECREASED SYSTEMIC VASCULAR RESISTANCE, EITHER SECONDARY TO DIFFUSE ARTERIOLAR DILATION OR POSSIBLE BYPASS OF THE ARTERIOLES AND CAPILLARY BEDS, LEADING TO ACTIVATION OF NEUROHORMONES. THIS ACTIVITY REVIEWS THE CAUSE, PATHOPHYSIOLOGY AND PRESENTATION OF HIGH OUTPUT HEART FAILURE AND STRESSES THE ROLE OF THE INTERPROFESSIONAL TEAM IN ITS MANAGEMENT.