title: Canadian Cardiovascular Society Consensus Conference guidelines on heart failure, update 2009: diagnosis and management of right-sided heart failure, myocarditis, device therapy and recent important clinical trials.
abstract: The Canadian Cardiovascular Society published a comprehensive set of recommendations on the diagnosis and management of heart failure in January 2006. Based on feedback obtained through a national program of heart failure workshops and through active solicitation of stakeholders, several topics were identified because of their importance to the practicing clinician. Topics chosen for the present update include best practices for the diagnosis and management of right-sided heart failure, myocarditis and device therapy, and a review of recent important or landmark clinical trials. These recommendations were developed using the structured approach for the review and assessment of evidence adopted and previously described by the Society. The present update has been written from a clinical perspective to provide a user-friendly and practical approach. Specific clinical questions that are addressed include: What is right-sided heart failure and how should one approach the diagnostic work-up? What other clinical entities may masquerade as this nebulous condition and how can we tell them apart? When should we be concerned about the presence of myocarditis and how quickly should patients with this condition be referred to an experienced centre? Among the myriad of recently published landmark clinical trials, which ones will impact our standards of clinical care? The goals are to aid physicians and other health care providers to optimally treat heart failure patients, resulting in a measurable impact on patient health and clinical outcomes in Canada.
authors.affiliation: University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta. howlettjonathan@gmail.com
authors.forename: Jonathan G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Howlett
authors.forename: Robert S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: McKelvie
authors.forename: J Malcolm O
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Arnold
authors.forename: Jeannine
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Costigan
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Dorian
authors.forename: Anique
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ducharme
authors.forename: Estrellita
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Estrella-Holder
authors.forename: Justin A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Ezekowitz
authors.forename: Nadia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Giannetti
authors.forename: Haissam
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Haddad
authors.forename: George A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Heckman
authors.forename: Anthony M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Herd
authors.forename: Debra
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Isaac
authors.forename: Philip
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Jong
authors.forename: Simon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kouz
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mann
authors.forename: Gordon W
authors.initials: GW
authors.lastname: Moe
authors.forename: Ross T
authors.initials: RT
authors.lastname: Tsuyuki
authors.forename: Heather J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Ross
authors.forename: Michel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: White
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D002170:Canada; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003245:Consensus Statements as Topic; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D009205:Myocarditis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012955:Societies, Medical; D018497:Ventricular Dysfunction, Right / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy