Background
Chronic heart failure is a common health problem with poor prognosis, high mortality rate and the incidence of this disease is increasing continuously. Prognosis of chronic systolic heart failure can be improved by several different medications and through special cardiac interventions based on the newly-published European and American guidelines. In case of severe systolic dysfunction the hospitalization and mortality can be reduced using angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors, angiotensin receptor blocking drugs, beta-receptor blocking agents and aldosterone antagonists, as evidenced in multi-centric studies. In selected cases of cardiac interventions, such as intra-cardiac defibrillator and/or cardiac resynchronization device implantation can be used for supporting the failing left ventricle. Also, some surgical procedures, as repair of functional regurgitant valves and surgical ventricular reconstruction are considered. In terminal stage, special devices (ventricular assist device, intra-aortic balloon pump, artificial heart) and, finally, heart transplantation can be applied.
Purpose
To provide practical and evidence-based strategies to assist physicians in selecting and modifying management plan for a particular patient with chronic systolic heart failure considering financial and social issues and availability of medical resources, interventional and surgical expertise for every treating center.
Stay updated, free articles. Join our Telegram channel
Full access? Get Clinical Tree
