title: The diagnostic and therapeutic approach to the patient in acute congestive heart failure.
abstract: The patient presented in acute congestive heart failure represents a diagnostic challenge. Life-threatening compromise of respiratory or cardiovascular function renders the patient vulnerable to the stresses associated with many diagnostic tests. Before risking any test in this situation, it is important to understand the information that each test will give, and how that will impact the diagnostic and therapeutic approach in this crucial early phase of patient management. This article describes the diagnostic tests commonly used in the evaluation of patients in acute heart failure and the information that each provides, and discusses how this information can be used to guide therapy. Pericardiocentesis is discussed in detail.
authors.affiliation: Cardiopet Veterinary Associates, Little Falls, NJ 07424, USA. abeardow@worldnet.att.net
authors.forename: A W
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Beardow
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000818:Animals; D002303:Cardiac Output, Low / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy / Q000662:veterinary*; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*; D002415:Cats; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*; D004285:Dogs; D004638:Emergency Treatment / Q000662:veterinary; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy / Q000662:veterinary*; D020519:Pericardiocentesis / Q000662:veterinary