title: Nesiritide: practical approach and benefits in the outpatient setting.
abstract: Several trials have documented the efficacy of inpatient infusions of nesiritide in patients with heart failure. Early results from the Follow-Up Serial Infusions of Nesiritide (FUSION) study have supported the safety and efficacy of outpatient nesiritide infusions. Our Heart Failure Treatment Program began the use of outpatient nesiritide infusions to provide a cost-effective approach to improve quality of life in patients with advanced congestive heart failure not responding to standard therapy. We have provided outpatient nesiritide infusions for 2 years with favorable improvement in patient's quality of life and reduction in hospitalizations with no adverse outcomes demonstrated. Our experience utilizing nesiritide in the outpatient setting has been similar to the FUSION findings.
authors.affiliation: Heart Failure Treatment Program, Kaiser Permanente Mid-Atlantic States, Fairfax, VA 22033, USA. sharon.r.josephson@kp.org
authors.forename: Sharon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Josephson
authors.forename: Pamela P
authors.initials: PP
authors.lastname: Barnett
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000554:Ambulatory Care Facilities / Q000458:organization & administration*; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D005260:Female; D006279:Health Maintenance Organizations; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000523:psychology; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000187:drug effects; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D045283:Natriuretic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration; D015397:Program Evaluation; D011788:Quality of Life; D012449:Safety; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D045283:Natriuretic Agents; D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain