CHF

What is the goal in the treatment of a 72-year-old with congestive heart failure? 

 1. Increase cardiac output
 2. Increase vascular tone
 3. Decrease hypoxemia
 4. Decrease lower-extremity edema

Teaching Points

• Increasing cardiac output is the main goal of therapy for a patient with congestive heart failure (CHF).
• Correction of hypoxemia from pulmonary edema and lower-extremity edema will occur as cardiac output is increased.
• Heart failure due to left ventricular dysfunction is categorized according to left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF).
• Heart failure with reduced ejection fraction is LVEF of 40% or less, and heart failure with preserved ejection fraction is LVEF greater than 40%.