Posted by:Dr.Zharif
Investigation
Blood test – FBC, renal function, liver function, glucose, lipid profile
urinalysis – proteinuria, glycosuria
Other important investigations include: • echocardiogram – to identify structural abnormalities and assess LV systolic and diastolic dysfunction |
natriuretic peptides or their precursors (especially BNP and NT-proBNP) – If available, this investigation is useful in the evaluation of patients presenting IIa.A with acute dyspnoea in the urgent care setting in whom the clinical diagnosis of HF is uncertain. A low-normal concentration of this marker in an untreated patient makes the diagnosis of HF unlikely.Thus it is a useful “rule–out” test in doubtful cases.
Additional investigations when indicated;
Blood tests:
– cardiac biomarkers – thyroid function tests
– C-reactive protein (to look for inflammation)
Tests for myocardial ischemia and/or viability: – treadmill exercise test
– stress echocardiography (exercise or pharmacological)
– radionuclide studies
– cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR)
Invasive tests:
– coronary angiography – cardiac catheterization – endomyocardial biopsy
Others:
Management
The principles of management are:
Rapid recognition of the condition
Stabilization of hemodynamics
Improvement in clinical symptoms and signs
Identification and treatment of the
– underlying cause
– precipitating / aggravating factors.
The initial management includes a combination of the following first line therapy:
Oxygen – 5 to 6 liters/minute, by mask with the aim of achieving oxygen saturation of more than 95% in order to maximize tissue oxygenation and to prevent end organ dysfunction or multi organ failure. Elective ventilation using non invasive positive pressure ventilation (Continuous
Frusemide – Intravenous (i.v.) frusemide 40 – 100mg. The dose should be
individualized depending on the severity of the clinical condition
Administration of a loading dose followed by a continuous infusion has been
shown to be more effective than repeated bolus injections alone .The
dose should be titrated according to clinical response and renal function.
Morphine sulphate – i.v. 3 – 5 mg bolus (repeated if necessary, up to a total maximum of 10mg). It reduces pulmonary venous congestion and sympathetic drive. It is most useful in patients who are dyspnoeic and restless. Intravenous anti-emetics (metoclopramide 10mg or prochlorperazine 12.5mg) should be administered concomitantly. Care must be exercised in patients with chronic respiratory diseases.
Nitrates - If the BP is adequate (SBP > 100 mmHg), nitrates are indicated as first line therapy in AHF. It should be administered sublingually or intravenously. The i.v. route is more effective and preferable. Patients should be closely monitored for hypotension. This commonly occurs with concomitant diuretic therapy. Studies have shown that the combination of i.v. nitrate and low dose frusemide is more efficacious than high dose diuretic treatment alone .
Extreme caution should be exercised in patients with aortic and mitral stenosis.
| Route of | Dosages | |
| Admin | | |
Diuretics | | | |
Frusemide | IV | 40mg – 100mg | |
| Infusion | 5 – 40mg/hour (better than very high bolus | |
| | doses) | |
| | | |
Vasodilators | | | |
Nitroglycerin | Infusion | 5ug/min increasing at intervals of 3 – 5 min | |
| | by 5ug/min increments up to 100 – 200 | |
| | ug/min | |
Nitroprusside | Infusion | 0.1 – 5ug/kg/min | |
| | | |
Sympathomimetics | | | |
Dobutamine | Infusion | 2 – 20ug/kg/min | |
Dopamine | Infusion | <2> | |
| | 2 – 10ug/kg/min – inotropic doses | |
| | 10 – 20ug/kg/min – | |
| | peripheral vasoconstriction | |
Noradrenaline | Infusion | 0.02 – 1ug/kg/min till desired BP is | |
| | attained | |
| | | |
Phosphodiesterase- | | | |
3- Inhibitors | | | |
Milrinone | Infusion | 50ug/kg bolus then 0.375 – 0.75ug/kg/min | |
| | | |
Grading of Recommendations of Therapies in the Management of AHF
Intervention | Grades of | Level of | | |
Recommen- | Comments | | ||
| Evidence | | ||
| dation | | | |
| | | | |
| INITIAL MANAGEMENT CONSISTS OF : | | ||
| | | Maintain the oxygen saturation above | |
Oxygen | I | C | | |
95% | | |||
| | | | |
| | | | |
Diuretics | I | B | Indicated for fluid retention | |
| | | | |
Nitrates | I | B | Contraindicated if SBP<> | |
with caution in valvular stenosis. | | |||
| | | | |
| | | | |
Morphine | IIb | C | Indicated in pts who are dyspnoeic and | |
restless | | |||
| | | | |
| | | | |
NOT RESPONSIVE TO INITIAL TREATMENT AND SBP≥100mmHg | | |||
| | | continuous infusion; combination with | |
| | | | |
Diuretics | IIb | C | nitrates, dopamine, dobutamine or | |
| | | thiazide | |
Dobutamine | IIa | C | Indicated for peripheral hypoperfusion +/- | |
pulmonary congestion | | |||
| | | | |
| | | | |
Dopamine | IIb | C | To improve renal perfusion and promote | |
(<2>µg/kg/min) | diuresis | | ||
| | | ||
| | | | |
Milrinone | IIb | C | Improves symptoms and hemodynamics. | |
| | | | |
Sodium | I | C | Indicated in hypertensive crisis and acute | |
Nitroprusside | valvular regurgitation | | ||
| | | ||
| | | | |
NOT RESPONSIVE TO INITIAL TREATMENT AND SBP<100mmhg | | |||
| | | Indicated to increase the BP | |
Dopamine | IIa | C | | |
(>2µg/kg/min) | | |||
| | | | |
| | | | |
Noradrenaline | IIb | C | Indicated to increase the BP | |
| | | | |
| | | Indicated as a bridge till myocardial | |
IABP | I | B | recovery or heart transplant | |
| | | | |
Ventricular | | | Indicated as a bridge till myocardial | |
Assist Device | | | | |
IIa | B | recovery or heart transplant | | |
(VAD) | | |||
| | | |
For more detail Information about Management of Heart Failure By MOH
u can download the pdf file HERE