Heart Failure: Evaluation and Care of Patients with Left-Ventricular Systolic Dysfunction. Clinical Practice Guideline No. 11; Heart Failure: Management of Patients with Left-Ventricular Systolic Dysfunction. Quick Reference Guide for Clinicians No. 11; Living with Heart Disease: Is It Heart Failure. Patient and Family Guide

摘要

The Agency for Health Care Policy and Research (AHCPR) sponsored development of this Clinical Practice Guideline. It provides recommendations for the evaluation and care of patients with heart failure due to reduced left-ventricular systolic function, which is the most common type of heart failure. It touches only briefly on the management of patients with heart failure occurring despite normal ventricular systolic performance, and it does not address the management of patients with surgically correctable valvular disease. Except as noted, the recommendations in this guideline apply to both inpatient and outpatient settings. Specialized techniques used only in the hospital setting--such as right-heart catheterization and cardiac assist devices--are not discussed.