Congestive Heart Failure
Congestive heart failure (CHF) is a condition in which the heart is unable to pump enough blood to the rest of the body. A variety of disorders, including valvular abnormalities and dysrhythmias can cause CHF. The common signs of are swollen legs, ankles or difficulty breathing. Weight gain from fluid buildup is another symptom. As for diagnosis and treatment, your doctor is the best person for you to go to. A cardiologist, specializing in heart failure, would be the most qualified and familiar with conducting proper evaluations, care, and management according to the Comprehensive Heart Failure Practice Guideline (CHFPG 2010).
The CHF Challenge
The diagnosis of clinical syndromes of acute Congestive Heart Failure (CHF) may be difficult due to an overlap in symptoms. For instance, both cardiogenic shock and pulmonary edema patients may show severe circulatory and respiratory distress, low cardiac index (CI) and high wedge pressure (PCWP). However, their treatment is different if not almost opposite. Even the diagnosis of acute CHF is sometimes difficult due to an overlap in signs of obstructive or restrictive lung diseases and the occasionally difficulty in differentiation between septic and cardiogenic shock. The AESCULON® hemodynamic monitor is the choice of noninvasive diagnostic tools to enhance both diagnosis and therapy of acute and chronic heart failure.
