Heart failure: advanced therapies

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Elsie A Jolade

Hunter College-City University of New York, USA

: J Nurs Patient Care

Abstract

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Heart failure (HF) is a cardiac dysfunction in which the heart can’t pump sufficient blood to meet the body’s metabolic demands. It result in inadequate tissue perfusion, leading to reduced exercise tolerance, quality of life, and shortened life span. Causes includes loss of a critical quantity of functioning myocardial cells after injury to the heart due to Ischemic Heart Disease, Hypertension, Cardiomyopathies, Infections, Toxins, Valvular Disease and Prolonged Arrhythmias. HF affects about 5.7 million adults in the United States, half of which dies within 5 years of diagnosis. HF costs the nation an estimated $30.7 billion each year. Principles of pharmacological treatment focuses on reducing preload, afterload and neurohormonal activity; and increasing inotropy with ACEInhibitors, Beta-blockers, and aldosterone antagonists. Advanced therapies of HF management includes cardiac resynchronization, heart transplant, artificial hearts, Ventricular Assist Devices which are new “gadgets” to help doctors manage heart failure.

Biography

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