Intensive Care Network Podcasts

Acute heart failure (AHF) is defined as rapid onset of new or worsening signs and symptoms of heart failure. It represents a life-threatening condition requiring treatment for fluid overload and hemodynamic compromise. Presentation may be initial diagnosis with symptoms and signs of AHF or acute decompensation of pre-existing cardiomyopathy. Hemodynamic instability results from disorders of the myocardium, valves, conduction system or pericardium, in isolation or combination. Potentially treatable causes, e.g. acute coronary syndromes, must be diagnosed and managed early for restoration of function.   Physiological changes associated with AHF result in reduced cardiac output and end-organ hypoperfusion. Once potentially treatable causes are managed, stratification of patients by clinical presentation guides further therapeutic intervention. AHF patients can be categorized as either ‘wet’ or ‘dry’ by clinical fluid status assessment, and either ‘cold’ or ‘warm’ according to perfusion status. In combination, th