Systolic heart failure

Likewise, heart failure is not always associated with systolic dysfunction and an obvious decline in cardiac pumping ability. In approximately half the cases of symptomatic heart failure, systolic function and cardiac output may appear normal when the patient is at rest.53,63 In this type of heart failure, cardiac function is impaired because the left ventricle is stiff and unable to relax during the filling phase, resulting in increased pressures at the end of diastole.31 This condition is often described as diastolic heart failure, but it is also identified by other names such as heart failure with preserved left ventricular... 

Herbs have been used as medical treatments since the beginning of civilization and some herbal derivatives (e.g., aspirin, reserpine, and digitalis) have become a mainstay of human pharmacotherapy. For cardiovascular diseases, herbal treatments have been used in patients with congestive heart failure, systolic hypertension, angina pectoris, atherosclerosis, cerebral insufficiency, venous insufficiency, and arrhythmia. Scientific validation of several plant species has proved the efficacy of the botanicals in reducing the... 

The amide local anaesthetic lidocaine may also be used as an antianhythmic for ventricular tachycardia and exra-systoles after injection into the blood circulation. Drugs with high lipid solubility such as bupivacaine cannot be used for these purposes because their prolonged binding to the channel may induce dysrhythmias or asystolic heart failure [3]. Systemically applied lidocaine has also been used successfully in some cases of neuropathic pain syndromes [4]. Here, electrical activity in the peripheral nervous system is reduced by used-dependent but incomplete sodium channel blockade. 

Left ventricular dysfunction, also called left ventricular systolic dysfunction, is the most common fonn of heart failure and results in decreased cardiac output and decreased ejection fraction (the amount of blood that the ventricle ejects per beat in relationship to the amount of blood available to eject). Typically, the ejection fraction should be greater than 60%. With, left... 

Managing Heart Failure in Patients with Left Ventricular Systolic Dysfunction ... 

FIGURE 39-1. Management of left ventricular systolic dysfunction. (Adapted from Ammon, S [2001], Managing patients with heart failure, AJN 101 [12] 35.)... 

Adjust dose to achieve heart rate <100 beats/min ° Cautious use in setting of heart failure related to systolic dysfunction... 

P-Blockers and ACE inhibitors are also indicated for post-myocardial infarction for the reduction of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, as are aldosterone antagonists, in post-myocardial infarction patients with reduced left ventricular systolic function and diabetes or signs and symptoms of heart failure.2,48... 

Patients with asymptomatic left ventricular systolic dysfunction and hypertension should be treated with P-blockers and ACE inhibitors. Those with heart failure secondary to left ventricular dysfunction and hypertension should be treated with drugs proven to also reduce the morbidity and mortality of heart failure, including P-blockers, ACE inhibitors, ARBs, aldosterone antagonists, and diuretics for symptom control as well as antihypertensive effect. In African-Americans with heart failure and left ventricular systolic dysfunction, combination therapy with nitrates and hydralazine not only affords a morbidity and mortality benefit, but may also be useful as antihypertensive therapy if needed.66 The dihydropyridine calcium channel blockers amlodipine or felodipine may also be used in patients with heart failure and left ventricular systolic dysfunction for uncontrolled blood pressure, although they have no effect on heart failure morbidity and mortality in these patients.49 For patients with heart failure and preserved ejection fraction, antihypertensive therapies that should be considered include P-blockers, ACE inhibitors, ARBs, calcium channel blockers (including nondihydropyridine agents), diuretics, and others as needed to control blood pressure.2,49... 

The ACC/AHA recommends that P-blockers be initiated in all patients with NYHA FC I to IV or ACC/AHA stages B through D heart failure if clinically stable.1 To date, only three p-blockers have been shown to reduce mortality in systolic HF, including the selective prantagonists bisoprolol and metoprolol succinate, and the non-selective pr, p2-, and arantagonist carvedilol.29 33 The positive findings should not be extrapolated to be indicative of a class effect, as bucindolol did not exhibit a beneficial effect on mortality when studied for HF, and there is limited information with propranolol and atenolol. 

Unlike systolic HF, few prospective trials have evaluated the safety and efficacy of various cardiac medications in patients with diastolic HF or preserved ejection fraction. The Candesartan in Heart Failure Assessment of Reduction in Mortality and Morbidity (CHARM) study demonstrated that angiotensin receptor blockade with candesartan resulted in beneficial effects on HF morbidity in patients with preserved LVEF similar to those seen in depressed LV function.25... 

Ng TMH, Carter O, Guillory GS, et al. High-impact articles related to the pharmacotherapeutic management of systolic heart failure. Pharmacotherapy 2004 24 1594-1633. 

As described in the previous section, calcium channel blockers should not be administered to most patients with ACS. Their role is a second-line treatment for patients with certain contraindications to P-blockers and those with continued ischemia despite P-blocker and nitrate therapy. Administration of either amlodipine, diltiazem, or verapamil is preferred.2 Agent selection is based on heart rate and left ventricular dysfunction (diltiazem and verapamil are contraindicated in patients with bradycardia, heart block, or systolic heart failure). Dosing and contraindications are described in Table 5-2. 

Although P-blockers should be avoided in patients with decompensated heart failure from left ventricular systolic dysfunction complicating an MI, clinical trial data suggest that it is safe to initiate P-blockers prior to hospital discharge in these patients once heart failure symptoms have resolved.64 These patients may actually benefit more than those without left ventricular dysfunction.65 In patients who cannot tolerate or have a contraindication to a P-blocker, a calcium channel blocker can be used to prevent anginal symptoms, but should not be used routinely in the absence of such symptoms.2,3,62... 

Hypertension is the most common cardiovascular disease in fact, nearly 25% of adults in the U.S. are considered hypertensive. Hypertension is defined as a consistent elevation in blood pressure such that systolic/diastolic pressures are >140/90 mmHg. Over time, chronic hypertension can cause pathological changes in the vasculature and in the heart. As a result, hypertensive patients are at increased risk for atherosclerosis, aneurysm, stroke, myocardial infarction, heart failure, and kidney failure. There are several categories of antihypertensive agents ... 

The long-term goals after MI are to (1) control modifiable coronary heart disease (CHD) risk factors (2) prevent development of systolic heart failure (3) prevent recurrent MI and stroke and (4) prevent death, including sudden cardiac death. 

Heart failure (HF) is a clinical syndrome caused by the inability of the heart to pump sufficient blood to meet the metabolic needs of the body. HF can result from any disorder that reduces ventricular filling (diastolic dysfunction) and/or myocardial contractility (systolic dysfunction). 

Invasive hemodynamic monitoring should be considered in patients who are refractory to initial therapy, whose volume status is unclear, or who have clinically significant hypotension such as systolic BP <80 mm Hg. Such monitoring helps guide treatment and classify patients into four specific hemodynamic subsets based on cardiac index and pulmonary artery occlusion pressure (PAOP). Refer to textbook Chap. 16 (Heart Failure) for more information. 

FIGURE 8-2. General treatment algorithm for acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF) based on clinical presentation. IV vasodilators that may be used include nitroglycerin, nesiritide, or nitroprusside. Metolazone or spironolactone may be added if the patient fails to respond to loop diuretics and a second diuretic is required. IV inotropes that may be used include dobutamine or milrinone. (D/C, discontinue HF, heart failure SBP, systolic blood pressure.) (Reprinted and adapted from J Cardiac Fail, Vol 12, pages el-el 22, copyright 2006, with permission from Elsevier.)... 

Left Ventricular Dysfunction (Systolic Heart Failure)... 

Cardiostimulation. By stimulating Pi-receptors, hence activation of ade-nylatcyclase (Ad-cyclase) and cAMP production, catecholamines augment all heart functions, including systolic force (positive inotropism), velocity of shortening (p. clinotropism), sinoatrial rate (p. chronotropism), conduction velocity (p. dromotropism), and excitability (p. bathmotropism). In pacemaker fibers, diastolic depolarization is hastened, so that the firing threshold for the action potential is reached sooner (positive chronotropic effect, B). The cardiostim-ulant effect of p-sympathomimetics such as epinephrine is exploited in the treatment of cardiac arrest Use of p-sympathomimetics in heart failure carries the risk of cardiac arrhythmias. 

Congestive heart failure In myocardial insufficiency, the heart depends on a tonic sympathetic drive to maintain adequate cardiac output. Sympathetic activation gives rise to an increase in heart rate and systolic muscle tension, enabling cardiac output to be restored to a level comparable to that in a healthy subject. When sympathetic drive is eliminated during p-receptor blockade, stroke volume and cardiac rate decline, a latent myocardial insufficiency is unmasked, and overt insufficiency is exacerbated (A). 

Heart failure/hypotension - May cause or aggravate CFIF or produce severe hypotension, especially in patients with depressed systolic function. Do not use in patients with uncompensated or marginally compensated CFIF or hypotension unless secondary to cardiac arrhythmia. Treat patients with a... 

Heart failure Some ACEIs are effective in the management of CHF, usually as adjunctive therapy and in patients who demonstrate clinical signs of CHF or have evidence of left ventricular systolic dysfunction within the first few days after an acute myocardial infarction (Ml). 

Heart failure post-Mi/ieft-ventricuiar dysfunction post-MI (trandolapril, ramipril) For stable patients who have evidence of left-ventricular systolic dysfunction (identified... 

Congestive heart failure (CHF) post-myocardial infarction (Ml) To improve survival of stable patients with left ventricular systolic dysfunction (ejection fraction 40% or less) and clinical evidence of CHF after an acute Ml. 

Myocardial ischemia and infarction cause abnorma myocardial metabolism, decreased left ventricular (LV) systolic function, diastolic dysfunction, congestive heart failure, and decreased survival. Consequently, revascularization techniques, either surgical or catheter based, have become integral to treatment of severe ischemic heart disease. 

Groeiming BA, Nilsson JC, Hildebrandt PR, et al. Neurohumoral prediction of left-ventricular morphologic response to beta-blockade with metoprolol in chronic left-ventricular systolic heart failure. Eur. J. Heart Fail. 2002 4 635-46. 

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