Approach to Acute Heart Failure in the Emergency Department

Acute heart failure (AHF) patients rarely present complaining of ‘acute heart failure.’ Rather, they initially present to the emergency department (ED) with a myriad of chief complaints, symptoms, and physical exam findings. Such heterogeneity prompts an initially broad differential diagnosis; securing the correct diagnosis can be challenging. Although AHF ma y be the ultimate diagnosis, the precipitant of decompensation must also be sought and addressed. For those AHF patients who present in respiratory or circulatory failure requiring immediate stabilization, treatment begins even while the diagnosis is uncertain.
Source: Progress in Cardiovascular Diseases - Category: Cardiology Authors: Source Type: research