Articles related to HEART FAILURE (HF)

In this commentary, the editor-in-chief of CCJM considers what is known, and what is still mystery about how the heart and kidneys are modified during chronic heart failure, and discusses how much of our therapy remains empiric and experience-based.

Seven-hundred patients with left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) of 35% or less, extensive coronary artery disease amenable to PCI, and demonstrable myocardial viability were randomly assigned to PCI plus optimal medical therapy vs. optimal medical therapy alone. At 6 months, the LVEF was similar between the two groups.

The IV-equivalent formulation is indicated for the treatment of congestion due to fluid overload in people with NYHA class II/III chronic heart failure and may offer a substantial change in the management of the condition.

ADHF accounts for more than 1 million hospitalizations per year in the United States. Inadequate diuresis is a common cause. Despite the evidence supporting guideline-directed medical therapy, studies guiding diuresis are limited. This 1-minute consult reviews proven approaches to effective diuresis in varied settings.

Palliative care (PC) can help reduce emergency department use, hospitalizations, and symptom burden across a spectrum of diseases. To assist clinicians in keeping their expertise current, the authors reviewed and summarized the top PC articles of 2020. The analysis included 28 PC intervention trials for heart failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and dementia.

The story of David Bennett, age 57, who had severe cardiac failure and was denied a traditional human heart transplant from several programs when he ultimately agreed to the experimental xenotransplant. On day 34, the patient showed no signs of rejection of the porcine heart, but by day 49, sudden diastolic thickening and antibody-mediated failure of the xenograft prevented any lifesaving measures, and he died on day 60.