title: Intravenous diuretic day-care treatment for patients with heart failure.
abstract: Fluid overload is a common manifestation of decompensated chronic heart failure. This paper reports on a pilot study that investigated whether intravenous (i.v.) furosemide administered on a cardiology day ward for three successive days was effective in improving the symptoms of patients with fluid overload and chronic heart failure. The results showed that 94.1% of patients reported an improvement in their breathlessness, with a marked weight loss in 88.2% of patients. There were no marked changes in blood pressure or renal function. Hospital admission was avoided in 94.1% of cases. The study concluded that i.v. diuretic treatment given in a hospital day-care setting is safe and effective, and that it reduces the need for hospital admissions. As a consequence, this reduces the associated financial costs of hospitalisation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire. Prithwish.Banerjee@uhcw.nhs.uk
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Banerjee
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tanner
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Williams
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017046:Cost Savings / Q000379:methods; D003631:Day Care, Medical / Q000379:methods / Q000458:organization & administration; D019468:Disease Management; D018450:Disease Progression; D004232:Diuretics / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016903:Drug Monitoring / Q000379:methods; D004417:Dyspnea / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D005665:Furosemide / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000150:complications / Q000191:economics / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010343:Patient Admission / Q000191:economics; D010865:Pilot Projects; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014883:Water-Electrolyte Imbalance / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D015431:Weight Loss / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D004232:Diuretics; D005665:Furosemide