title: [Diagnosis of cardiac failure].
abstract: The mere recognition of cardiac failure should not be the sole diagnostic aim. Diagnosis must also include the search for the underlying cause of cardiac failure and for its precipitating causes, as well as the assessment of its severity. Each step is essential because it contributes to the choice of an appropriate treatment. Full diagnosis take into account disease history, physical examination, electrocardiogram and chest X-ray; in addition, informations provided by cardiac echography play an increasing role in the assessment of cardiac failure.
authors.affiliation: Clinique cardiologique et des maladies vasculaires Hôpital G. et R. Laennec, Nantes.
authors.forename: A H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Nguyen
authors.forename: J B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Bouhour
mesh_terms: D006333:Heart Failure / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
vernacular_title: Diagnostic de l'insuffisance cardiaque.