Congestive heart failure
(CHF) occurs when the heart muscle is not able to
pump enough blood to satisfy the metabolic needs of
the tissues. Heart failure may be due to a primary
disease of the heart muscle which is called
cardiomyopathy, or may be secondary to diseases
which affect the heart muscle such as hypertension,
coronary heart disease, or various diseases of the
heart valves. Heart
failure is divided into various types:
Left-sided heart failure is failure of the
left ventricle (larger chamber that pumps blood
to the body). This may result in fluid
accumulating in the lungs and the patient
complaining of shortness of breath.
Right-sided heart failure is failure of the
right ventricle (chamber that pumps blood to the
lungs) and may result in fluid accumulating in
the abdomen and in the ankles.
Heart failure is further subdivided into
systolic dysfunction and diastolic dysfunction:
Systolic dysfunction is an abnormality of
contraction of the pumping chambers of the
heart.
Diastolic dysfunction occurs when the pumping
chamber may be contracting normally but does not
relax properly (i.e., they are stiff).
Congestive heart failure is estimated to affect
about 5 million people in the United States or about
1.7% of the overall population. Approximately
550,000 new cases of CHF are diagnosed in the United
States each year. Congestive heart failure is a
disease that primarily affects older individuals
with an estimated prevalence of about 10% in people
age 80 or older. It is rarely observed in
individuals younger than age 50. Congestive heart
failure is a leading cause of hospitalization in
people over the age of 65 and is estimated to be a
contributing factor to nearly 250,000 deaths
annually.
Goals of therapy for patients
with congestive heart failure include improvement in
the quality of life, reduction in the occurrence of
acute episodes, decreased mortality and improved
length of survival. Another goal is to decrease the
likelihood of arrhythmia, which may be a cause of
sudden death in persons with heart failure. In
general, the treatment options for congestive heart
failure include:
Discomfort around the operation site for a
few weeks
A scar down the length of your sternum - the
scar will be red at first but should fade over
time
Complications are unexpected problems that can
occur during or after the procedure. Most people are
not affected. The main complications of any
operation are bleeding during or soon after the
procedure, infection and an abnormal reaction to the
anaesthetic.
Specific complications of heart
valve surgery are rare but can include the
following:
Blood clots may form, particularly if you
have had a mechanical valve fitted.
These clots can break off and block an artery
(blood vessel), which can lead to a heart attack
or stroke. Anticoagulant medicines will help to
prevent this happening.
The valve may wear out or be damaged,
particularly tissue valves in young, more active
people.
It's possible that you may have an irregular
heart beat (arrhythmia), which can be treated
with drugs and is usually temporary.
Your new valve can become infected and
inflamed (endocarditis). This can damage your
heart. You will be given antibiotics to help
lower this risk.
There is a small risk of death during or soon
after this operation.
The chance of complications depends on the
exact type of procedure you are having and factors
such as your general health.
Ask your surgeon
to explain how these risks apply to you.
Drug therapy
Implantable device therapy
Surgery
Hospitals Listing
Escorts Heart Institute
New Delhi
{India}
Moolchand
New Delhi
{India}
National Healthcare Group
{Singapore}
National Healthcare Group
Phyathai
Banbkok
{Thailand}
Phyathai 1 Hospital was established on 30 July, 1976 and it is located a
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