Thoracic Key

8 Non-pharmacological management Implantable cardiac defibrillators Death from heart failure (HF) is usually related to pump failure or ventricular arrhythmia (Figure 8.1). Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) is the major…

5 Diagnosis Case history A 67-year-old man with diabetes mellitus, hypertension and renal impairment is referred to the cardiology outpatient department because of fatigue. He is overweight and relatively inactive,…

3 Causes In the majority of patients with chronic heart failure (HF), clinical deterioration is caused by one factor or a combination of factors (Table 3.1). In de novo cases…

7 Pharmacological treatment The different forms of heart failure (HF) (systolic and diastolic, left and right ventricular ([LV/RV] dysfunction, acute and chronic – see Chapter 1) require somewhat different treatment…

1 Definitions and epidemiology Definitions The term ‘heart failure’ (HF) is generally used to describe the physiological state in which cardiac function is insufficient to meet the metabolic needs of…

2 Pathophysiology and clinical stages Pathophysiology Advances in the management of heart failure (HF) over the past 20 years have been informed by a better understanding of its pathophysiology. There…

9 Prognosis Diagnosis of heart failure (HF) carries a poor prognosis, often comparable with that of cancer. The annual mortality for mild-to-moderate HF (NYHA class II or III) is 24–28%,…