Medical management of acute decompensation of chronic heart failure in the emergency room

Abstract

Heart failure is a public health problem. The number of patients with heart failure referred to the emergency department is increasing. We propose a systematic approach to the acute exacerbation of heart failure based on: 1 – detection of the precipitating factors; 2 – definition of the clinical/hemodinamic profile; 3 – a therapeutic approach according to this clinical/ hemodinamic profile; 4 – choice criteria for combined drug treatment; and 5 – determination of criteria to leave the hospital. This standartization proposed to reduce the mortality and readmission rates at short term.