Congestive Heart Failure: Symptoms, Stages & Treatment

Congestive Heart Failure ranks among the most prevalent heart conditions globally, with a notable high mortality rate. Among the factors that influence its development are cardiovascular diseases like Coronary Artery Disease (CAD), Hypertension, Diabetes Mellitus, Valvular Heart Disease, High Blood Pressure (BP), and Cardiomyopathies.

In this condition, the heart fails to pump blood adequately to the body’s organs, leading to symptoms such as shortness of breath, fatigue, swollen ankles and legs, and a rapid or irregular heartbeat.

Initial Treatment Methods

We at Metro Hospitals offer a comprehensive treatment plan for Congestive Heart Failure. It typically involves a combination of lifestyle changes such as exercise and weight loss, medication, and often surgery.
Lifestyle changes may include quitting smoking, eating a healthy diet, regular exercise, and weight loss. Medications used to treat congestive heart failure include diuretics, ACE inhibitors, beta-blockers, and digoxin to improve the function of the heart and reduce fluid retention. Surgery may be necessary to treat congestive heart failure, particularly when it is caused by issues such as valve problems or coronary artery disease.

In surgical treatment, we address the root cause of heart failure by repairing valves, alleviating blockages, or addressing congenital heart defects. The primary objective of the surgery is to enhance heart function and alleviate symptoms.

The surgeon may replace the diseased portion of the heart with a healthy one or implant devices to enhance the heart’s pumping efficiency, such as:

• Implantable Defibrillators, or ICDs, deliver pacing – or an electric counter-shock – to the heart when it detects a life-threatening abnormal rhythm.
• Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy (CRT) is where they get a Biventricular Pacemaker to synchronize & normalize the ventricular contractions.
• An LVAD is a battery-operated mechanical pump device used to assist heart function.

Pre-Procedure Preparations

To prepare for congestive heart failure treatment surgery, we advise you on these steps:

• Be evaluated by our cardiologist, who will give the go-ahead for the surgery.
• A chest X-Ray
• Electrocardiogram (EKG)
• Echocardiogram (Heart Ultrasound)
• CT scan to evaluate Pericardial Disease
• MRI for the quantification of volumes, regurgitation, and mass of the ventricles
• Quit smoking, drinking, and any non-prescriptive drugs or supplements
• Eat a healthy diet
• Get plenty of rest.

These guidelines help to ensure a smooth surgery and quick recovery afterwards.

Benefits of the Procedure

Surgery in Congestive Heart Failure treatment is a highly recommended option due to these positive outcomes:

• It greatly improves the quality of life for patients by reducing symptoms and improving survival rates.
• Surgery helps to improve the function of the heart and reduce the risk of future heart problems.
• It is considered a procedure with a relatively high safety and effectiveness profile, characterized by a low incidence of complications.
• In some cases, the surgery can also help to prevent further heart damage.

Eligibility

The eligibility of a patient is decided by a Cardiologist with these steps:

• Patients undergo a thorough evaluation of their medical history and physical examination to rule out comorbidities and complication risks.
• Chest X-Ray to check for congestion.
• Patients typically need advanced heart failure that has not responded to other treatments.
• Patients must usually have a left ventricular ejection fraction of 35% or less and be symptomatic despite optimal medical therapy.
• Patients must also undergo a thorough evaluation to ensure their suitability as candidates for surgery.

Who is not eligible?

Patients who are ineligible for surgery to treat Congestive Heart Failure typically have one or more of the following conditions:

• Active endocarditis
• Active myocarditis
• Severe uncontrolled arrhythmias.
• Refractory congestive heart failure
• Comorbidities that increase the risk of surgical complications include conditions such as renal dysfunction, advanced age, or obesity.
• Not responding to medical therapy.

Medical research and innovations in medical science have made tremendous headway recently in developing new ways of treating and preventing critical heart problems, such as heart failure. Metro Group of Hospitals boasts of offering all-inclusive treatment with our state-of-the-art infrastructure and cutting-edge medical technologies. We prefer the patient-centric approach to provide the most advanced care to our patients.