Management of Acute Heart Failure

Acute heart failure (AHF) is a heterogeneous syndrome characterized by patients who present with signs and symptoms of heart failure (HF) in need of urgent or emergent therapy. Although dyspnea is the most common presentation, AHF is accompanied by a variety of signs and symptoms. AHF primarily afflicts the elderly; these patients typically have numerous comorbid conditions, both cardiovascular and noncardiovascular. Although signs and symptoms are similar in nearly all patients with AHF, the precipitant of acute decompensation, cardiac structure and function, and etiology of HF, as well as other comorbid conditions, vary considerably. This review covers the epidemiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis, treatment, and disposition of patients who present to the emergency department with nonacute coronary syndrome AHF. This review contains 6 highly rendered figures, 2 videos, 4 tables, and 82 references.