Heart failure--outlooks and strategies for treatment.
The outlook in heart failure patients with a dilated cardiomyopathy has improved dramatically over the past ten years. The availability of many excellent drugs apart from angiotensin II converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEI) has contributed to this. The best current survival rates reported are, however, in association with deliberate optimisation of haemodynamic parameters and incorporation of functional testing to monitor disease progression. These practises could well be adopted more widely in Australia and New Zealand. Surgical options for heart failure continue to expand, but apart from heart transplantation, remain somewhat experimental.
Keogh
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A
St Vincent's Hospital, Sydney, NSW.
D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018421:Cardiomyoplasty; D002316:Cardiotonic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D015444:Exercise; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D016027:Heart Transplantation; D006801:Humans; D009200:Myocardial Contraction; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use
D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; D002316:Cardiotonic Agents; D014665:Vasodilator Agents