Heart failure reviews
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Heart failure reviews · Nov 2019
Review Comparative StudySudden death in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction and beyond: an elusive target.
Heart failure (HF) with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) represents half of HF patients, who are more likely older, women, and hypertensive. Mortality rates in HFpEF are higher compared with age- and comorbidity-matched non-HF controls and lower than in HF with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF); the majority (50-70%) are cardiovascular (CV) deaths. Among CV deaths, sudden death (SD) (~ 35%) and HF-death (~ 20%) are the leading cardiac modes of death; however, proportionally, CV deaths, SD, and HF-deaths are lower in HFpEF, while non-CV deaths constitute a higher proportion of deaths in HFpEF (30-40%) than in HFrEF (~ 15%). ⋯ Matching a specific pathophysiology or mode of death with available and novel therapies may improve outcomes in HFpEF. However, this still remains an elusive target, as we need more information on determinants of SD. Implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs) have changed the landscape of SD prevention in HFrEF; if ICDs are to be applied to HFpEF, there must be a coordinated effort to identify and select high-risk patients.
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Heart failure reviews · Nov 2018
ReviewPercutaneous support of the failing left and right ventricle-recommendations for the use of mechanical device therapy.
Patients in cardiogenic shock and acute heart failure show high mortality and morbidity despite aggressive and invasive methods such as percutaneous coronary intervention and the use of mechanical support devices. Percutaneous implantation of active hemodynamic support is often the only option for hemodynamic stabilization of patients in cardiogenic shock. ⋯ Standardized protocols and clinical algorithms for the use of these support devices decrease mortality in these patients. The aim of this review is an overview of current therapies of cardiogenic shock with special focus on mechanical support devices and the suggestion of a clinical algorithm for the differential use of current devices as well as the hemodynamic monitoring of such patients in order to reduce mortality in cardiogenic shock.
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Heart failure reviews · Mar 2018
Percutaneous left atrial appendage occlusion in the prevention of stroke in atrial fibrillation: a systematic review.
Atrial fibrillation is commonly coexistent with heart failure, and the management of the heart failure patient would be incomplete without an appreciation for atrial fibrillation management. There are many complications associated with oral anticoagulation in the prevention of stroke related to atrial fibrillation. In recent years, the advent of several percutaneous left atrial appendage (LAA) occlusion/closure strategies has sought to provide an alternative treatment modality. ⋯ Data regarding the Amplatzer Cardiac Plug, Amplatzer Amulet, and Lariat suture delivery device are limited by the paucity of RCT data. High-quality prospective research is needed to directly compare LAA occlusion/closure strategies against one another as well as versus the direct oral anticoagulation medications. Data regarding the role of LAA occlusion in the heart failure population are lacking.
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Heart failure reviews · Sep 2017
ReviewPrimary palliative care for heart failure: what is it? How do we implement it?
Heart failure (HF) is a chronic and progressive illness, which affects a growing number of adults, and is associated with a high morbidity and mortality, as well as significant physical and psychological symptom burden on both patients with HF and their families. Palliative care is the multidisciplinary specialty focused on optimizing quality of life and reducing suffering for patients and families facing serious illness, regardless of prognosis. ⋯ In this paper, we describe the key domains of primary palliative care for patients with HF and offer some specific ways in which primary palliative care and specialist palliative care can be offered in this population. Although there is little research on HF primary palliative care, primary palliative care in HF offers a key opportunity to ensure that this population receives high-quality palliative care in spite of the growing numbers of patients with HF as well as the limited number of specialist palliative care providers.
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Heart failure reviews · Sep 2017
ReviewSpiritual distress and spiritual care in advanced heart failure.
As patients face serious and chronic illness, they are confronted with the realities of dying. Spiritual and existential issues are particularly prominent near the end of life and can result in significant distress. ⋯ Tools such as the FICA spiritual history tool help clinicians invite patients and families to share their spiritual or existential concerns as well as sources of hope and meaning which can help them cope better with their illness. This article presents ways to help clinicians listen to the whole story of the patient and support patients in their care.