This site is intended for healthcare professionals

Sign in
Go to /sign-in page

You can view 5 more pages without signing in

Management of acute left ventricular failure

Authoring team

The principles of treating acute heart failure are presented below:

  • lung function optimisation:
    • sit the patient up
    • administer maximal oxygen concentrations

  • intravenous diuretic:
    • 40-80 mg frusemide

  • intravenous opiate analgesia:
    • 5 mg diamorphine over 5 min

  • treatment of arrhythmias:
    • may require DC cardioversion or intravenous anti- arrhythmic therapy

  • vasodilator therapy

  • digoxin:
    • cautious intravenous administration if the above fail

  • venesection:
    • a pint may be removed from a moribund patient who fails to respond to the above

  • inotropes:
    • dobutamine infusion
    • dopamine infusion

Topics specific to the treatment of acute right ventricular failure are discussed elsewhere.

Related pages

Create an account to add page annotations

Create a free account

Annotations allow you to add information to this page that would be handy to have on hand during a consultation. E.g. a website or number. This information will always show when you visit this page.

The content herein is provided for informational purposes and does not replace the need to apply professional clinical judgement when diagnosing or treating any medical condition. A licensed medical practitioner should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions.

Connect

Copyright 2024 Oxbridge Solutions Limited, a subsidiary of OmniaMed Communications Limited. All rights reserved. Any distribution or duplication of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited. Oxbridge Solutions receives funding from advertising but maintains editorial independence.