Congestive heart failure echocardiography

Congestive Heart Failure Microchapters
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Pathophysiology Systolic Dysfunction Diastolic Dysfunction HFpEF HFrEF
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Differentiating Congestive heart failure from other Diseases
Epidemiology and Demographics
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Natural History, Complications and Prognosis
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History and Symptoms
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Medical Therapy:
Summary
Acute Pharmacotherapy
Chronic Pharmacotherapy in HFpEF
Chronic Pharmacotherapy in HFrEF Diuretics ACE Inhibitors Angiotensin receptor blockers Aldosterone Antagonists Beta Blockers Ca Channel Blockers Nitrates Hydralazine Positive Inotropics Anticoagulants Angiotensin Receptor-Neprilysin Inhibitor Antiarrhythmic Drugs Nutritional Supplements Hormonal Therapies Drugs to Avoid Drug Interactions Treatment of underlying causes Associated conditions
Exercise Training
Surgical Therapy: Biventricular Pacing or Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy (CRT) Implantation of Intracardiac Defibrillator Ultrafiltration Cardiac Surgery Left Ventricular Assist Devices (LVADs) Cardiac Transplantation
ACC/AHA Guideline Recommendations Initial and Serial Evaluation of the HF Patient Hospitalized Patient Patients With a Prior MI Sudden Cardiac Death Prevention Surgical/Percutaneous/Transcather Interventional Treatments of HF Patients at high risk for developing heart failure (Stage A) Patients with cardiac structural abnormalities or remodeling who have not developed heart failure symptoms (Stage B) Patients with current or prior symptoms of heart failure (Stage C) Patients with refractory end-stage heart failure (Stage D) Coordinating Care for Patients With Chronic HF Quality Metrics/Performance Measures
Implementation of Practice Guidelines
Congestive heart failure end-of-life considerations
Specific Groups: Special Populations Patients who have concomitant disorders Obstructive Sleep Apnea in the Patient with CHF NSTEMI with Heart Failure and Cardiogenic Shock
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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]

Overview

Echocardiography is commonly used to diagnose and monitor the progress of heart failure. This modality uses ultrasound to determine the stroke volume (SV, the amount of blood in the heart that exits the ventricles with each beat), the end-diastolic volume (EDV, the total amount of blood at the end of diastole), and the SV divided by the EDV, a value known as the ejection fraction (EF). In pediatrics, the shortening fraction is the preferred measure of systolic function.

Abnormalities Detected / Evaluated on Echocardiography in Congestive Heart Failure

Echocardiography can be used in the following ways:

• To evaluate left ventricular function and ejection fraction to distinguish systolic dysfunction with a low ejection fraction (<40%) from diastolic dysfunction with a preserved ejection fraction.
• To assess for the presence of regional wall motion abnormalities that would suggest an ischemic basis for the heart failure
• Detection and quantification of mitral regurgitation
• Detection and quantification oof aortic stenosis
• Measurement of pulmonary artery pressure
• Pericardial diseases such as cardiac tamponade can be rapidly diagnosed by echocardiography.
• Echocardiography may also aid in deciding what treatments will help the patient, such as medication, insertion of an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator or cardiac resynchronization therapy.