Congestive Heart Failure

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW:

Congestive heart failure is a life-threatening disease that occurs when your heart becomes too weak to pump blood properly.

CARE AGREEMENT:

You have the right to help plan your care. Learn about your health condition and how it may be treated. Discuss treatment options with your caregivers to decide what care you want to receive. You always have the right to refuse treatment.

RISKS:

• Medicines used to treat your heart failure may cause dizziness, low blood pressure, and kidney problems. You may develop abnormal heartbeats. Surgery may cause you to bleed into your chest, and make it hard for your heart to beat. Your nerves, heart, and lungs may be damaged. You may get an infection after surgery.
  
  
• You may get a blood clot that travels to your lungs or brain, which can be life-threatening. If you need a heart transplant, your body may reject the heart. If your body rejects your new heart, you may need another transplant. Even with treatment, your heart failure may get worse, and you may die.

WHILE YOU ARE HERE:

Informed consent:

A consent form is a legal document that explains the tests, treatments, or procedures that you may need. Informed consent means you understand what will be done and can make decisions about what you want. You give your permission when you sign the consent form. You can have someone sign this form for you if you are not able to sign it. You have the right to understand your medical care in words you know. Before you sign the consent form, understand the risks and benefits of what will be done. Make sure all your questions are answered.

Intake and output:

Caregivers will measure how much liquid you drink or get in your IV, and how much you urinate.

Weight:

Caregivers will compare your weight from day to day to check how much body fluid you have.

Medicines:

• Heart medicines:
  
  
  • ACE inhibitors: These help decrease your symptoms and slow your heart failure. You may need ARBs if you cannot take ACE inhibitors. ARBs help your heart beat more strongly.
    
    
  • Beta blockers: These help your heart pump strongly and regularly.
    
    
  • Cardiac glycosides: These help your heart beat strongly and decrease abnormal heartbeats.
    
    
  • Nitrates: These improve the blood flow through your heart.
    
    
  • Vasodilators: These improve blood flow by making the vessels in your heart and lungs wider.
  
  
• Diuretics: These help your body get rid of extra fluid and protect your heart from more damage. You may urinate more often while you are taking diuretics.
  
  
• Morphine: This helps blood vessels in your lungs open wider. This lets your blood pick up more oxygen, and your breathing may become easier.
  
  
• Blood thinners: These prevent blood clots. They may make you bruise or bleed more easily. Use a soft toothbrush and an electric shaver to prevent bleeding.

Monitoring:

• ECG: This is also called an EKG. An ECG is done to check for damage or problems in your heart. A short period of electrical activity in your heart is recorded.
  
  
• Pulse oximeter: A pulse oximeter is a device that measures the amount of oxygen in your blood. A cord with a clip or sticky strip is placed on your finger, ear, or toe. The other end of the cord is hooked to a machine.
  
  
• Arterial line: An arterial line is a tube that is placed into an artery, usually in the wrist or groin. An arterial line may be used for measuring your blood pressure or for taking blood.
  
  
• Pulmonary artery catheter: A balloon-tipped catheter (tube) is inserted through a vein in your neck or groin. The catheter goes into your pulmonary artery. The balloon is inflated to wedge the catheter in place. The catheter is used to measure the pressure in your heart and lungs. The measurements can also show caregivers how your heart responds to medicines.

Tests:

• Blood tests: A sample of your blood may be taken to check for imbalances in hormones and electrolytes. Blood tests can check for diseases and test your lung, liver, and kidney function.
  
  
• Chest x-ray: The x-ray will show the size of your heart and if there is fluid around your heart and lungs.
  
  
• Echo: This type of ultrasound shows the movement and blood vessels of your heart. A transesophageal echo may be done if your heart cannot be seen well during a regular echo. Caregivers will put a tube in your mouth that is moved down into your esophagus. The tube has a small ultrasound sensor on the end that shows your heart.
  
  
• Pulmonary function tests: These tests help caregivers learn how well your body uses oxygen. You breathe into a mouthpiece connected to a machine. The machine measures how much air you breathe in and out over a certain amount of time.

Treatment:

• Angioplasty: This is a procedure to open a blocked or narrowed artery.
  
  
• Oxygen: You may get oxygen through a mask placed over your nose and mouth or through small tubes placed in your nostrils. A CPAP may be used to keep your airway open while you sleep. You may need a ventilator if you cannot breathe on your own. An endotracheal (ET) tube is put in your airway through your mouth or nose and hooked to the ventilator.
  
  
• Implanted devices: An implanted device is put under your skin to help your heart beat properly. A pacemaker is an example of an implanted device.
  
  
• Fluid balance: This is a procedure to remove extra fluid from your blood.
  
  
• Surgery: Surgery may be done to open blocked heart vessels. You may have a damaged valve replaced. You may need a heart transplant if all other treatments have failed.

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The above information is an educational aid only. It is not intended as medical advice for individual conditions or treatments. Talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist before following any medical regimen to see if it is safe and effective for you.

Learn more about Congestive Heart Failure (Inpatient Care)