This document provides information on congestive heart failure (CHF), including its prevalence, mortality rates, causes, pathophysiology, clinical presentation, treatment, and prehospital management. Some key points:
- CHF affects over 5 million Americans and is a leading cause of hospitalization and death. Common causes include coronary artery disease, hypertension, and valvular heart disease.
- Pathophysiologically, CHF occurs when the heart cannot pump sufficiently due to problems with preload, afterload, contractility, or valves. This back pressures blood and causes fluid overload.
- Clinical presentations include dyspnea, edema, fatigue, and signs of fluid overload. Left ventricular failure causes pulmonary edema while