Volume 73 Number 2 March 2006	back to contents

1Research Fellow and 2Assistant Professor, Director, Chest Pain Unit, Department of Emergency Medicine, Mount Sinai Medical Center, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY.

Address all correspondence to Luke Hermann, M.D., Director, Chest Pain Unit, Department of Emergency Medicine, Box 1149, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, One East 100th Street, New York, NY 10029-6574; e-mail: luke.hermann@mssm.edu

Dr. Hermann receives grant support from Scios, Inc.

Accepted for publication October 2005.

Abstract

Acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF) is a disease of enormous scope and impact. Despite significant advances in our understanding of the pathophysiology of the disease, the initial treatment of ADHF has changed little in the past 40 years. This article, the second in a two-part series, will examine the emergency department approach to ADHF, including the issues of risk stratification and goal-directed therapy. It will also review therapeutic interventions, including available medications and the role of non-invasive ventilation devices for the stabilization and treatment of ADHF.

KEY WORDS

Heart failure, natriuretic peptides, vasodilator therapy, neurohormones.

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