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Monitoring congestive heart failure
Author(s) -
Hezzell Melanie
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
in practice
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.211
H-Index - 25
eISSN - 2042-7689
pISSN - 0263-841X
DOI - 10.1136/inp.m1684
Subject(s) - medicine , heart failure , intensive care medicine , ascites , clinical practice , cardiology , physical therapy
Background: Congestive heart failure (CHF) is a clinical syndrome that is commonly encountered in small animal practice. It is characterised by the accumulation of fluid as a result of severe heart disease. This fluid accumulation manifests as pulmonary oedema in left‐sided CHF and as cavitary effusions (pleural, pericardial and ascites) in right‐sided CHF. The clinical consequences of both CHF itself and its medical management can have a significant impact on a patient's welfare; appropriate monitoring is therefore crucial to maintaining a good quality of life. Aim of the article: This article reviews the goals of monitoring CHF and discusses the methods available in veterinary practice.