title: Intermittent subcutaneous furosemide: parenteral diuretic rescue for hospice patients with congestive heart failure resistant to oral diuretic.
abstract: Patients with congestive heart failure (CHF) account for up to 12% of the hospice population and often experience significant symptoms related to volume overload. Diuretic therapy is the cornerstone of treatment but administration (PO) often becomes ineffective and (i.v., i.m.) routes cause discomfort or may not be feasible to ameliorate symptoms. Subcutaneous dosing of furosemide has been explored as a potential alternative for management of CHF symptoms. We report 2 cases of CHF resistant to oral diuretic and examine the clinical utility of subcutaneous furosemide in an inpatient palliative care unit and a home hospice setting. Our case series supports the use of subcutaneous therapy as a potential alternative in palliative care and hospice patients.
authors.affiliation: 1Birmingham Veterans Affairs Medical Center, University of Alabama at Birmingham, AL, USA.
authors.forename: Laura B
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: Farless
authors.forename: Neal
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Steil
authors.forename: Beverly Rosa
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: F Amos
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Bailey
mesh_terms: D004232:Diuretics; D005665:Furosemide; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000188:drug therapy; D017051:Hospice Care; D006738:Hospices; D006801:Humans
chemical_list: D004232:Diuretics; D005665:Furosemide
keywords: congestive heart failure; diuretic resistance; dyspnea; home infusion; hospice; subcutaneous therapy