title: Heart failure treatment in the intensive care unit in children.
abstract: Although pediatric heart failure is generally a chronic, progressive disorder, recovery of ventricular function may occur with some forms of cardiomyopathy. Guidelines for the management of chronic heart failure in adults and children have recently been published by the International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation the American College of Cardiology, and the American Heart Association. The primary aim of heart failure therapy is to reduce symptoms, preserve long-term ventricular performance, and prolong survival primarily through antagonism of the neurohormonal compensatory mechanisms. Because some medications may be detrimental during an acute decompensation, physicians who manage these patients as inpatients must be knowledgeable about the medications and therapeutic goals of chronic heart failure treatment. Understanding the mechanisms of chronic heart failure may foster improved understanding of the treatment of decompensated heart failure.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiology, The Heart Institute at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, 3333 Burnet Avenue, Cincinnati, OH 45244, USA.
authors.forename: John Lynn
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Jefferies
authors.forename: Timothy M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Hoffman
authors.forename: David P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Nelson
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D000740:Anemia / Q000503:physiopathology; D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D002303:Cardiac Output, Low; D002316:Cardiotonic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002395:Catecholamines / Q000097:blood; D002648:Child; D003422:Critical Care; D004232:Diuretics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004562:Electrocardiography; D006330:Heart Defects, Congenital / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D006353:Heart-Assist Devices; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000503:physiopathology; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology; D009200:Myocardial Contraction / Q000502:physiology; D009206:Myocardium / Q000473:pathology; D045265:Natriuretic Peptides / Q000097:blood; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology; D010101:Oxygen Consumption / Q000502:physiology; D011182:Postoperative Care; D051437:Renal Insufficiency / Q000503:physiopathology; D012084:Renin-Angiotensin System / Q000502:physiology; D012121:Respiration, Artificial / Q000379:methods; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D002316:Cardiotonic Agents; D002395:Catecholamines; D004232:Diuretics; D045265:Natriuretic Peptides; D014665:Vasodilator Agents