Congestive Heart Failure (cont.)
Medical Author:
Terrence X O'Brien, MD, FACC
Coauthor:
David A Smith, MD
Coauthor:
Kathryn L Hale, MS, PA-C
Medical Editor:
Alan D Forker, MD
Medical Editor:
Mary L Windle, PharmD
Medical Editor:
Michael E Zevitz, MD
IN THIS ARTICLE
Congestive Heart Failure SurgerySurgery can repair some underlying causes of heart failure, such as blockage of the coronary arteries, a valve problem, a congenital heart defect, or too thick of a pericardium. However, once the heart's ability to pump blood is severely, permanently, and irreversibly impaired, no surgery can repair the damage. The only alternative is a heart transplant. This
option is for patients who are not elderly and who do not have other medical
conditions that would make it unlikely for a heart transplant to be successful. Heart transplant evaluations are done in specialized centers.
Viewer Comments & ReviewsCongestive Heart Failure - Symptoms ExperiencedThe eMedicineHealth physician editors ask:For congestive heart failure, what were the symptoms and signs you experienced? Congestive Heart Failure - PrognosisThe eMedicineHealth physician editors ask:What is the prognosis for your congestive heart failure? |
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Heart Failure »
Heart failure is the pathophysiologic state in which the heart, via an abnormality of cardiac function (detectable or not), fails to pump blood at a rate commensurate with the requirements of the metabolizing tissues and/or pumps only from an abnormally elevated diastolic filling pressure.
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