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What Is The Treatment For Right Heart Failure?
Hello, I have a friend who is 77 years old, CEO of a mid-sized international accounting firm, Caucasian, male, with extensive (pitting) edema of lower extremities and is prescribed three diuretics (loop, thiazide, and pril). He is in located in Manila, I suspect right heart failure, and convinced him to come to US (Stanford Med Ctr) for a workup next month. Any interim thoughts?
posted on
Sat, 15 Mar 2014
Medically reviewed by
Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team
Sun, 28 Feb 2016
Answered on
Mon, 29 Feb 2016
Last reviewed on
Hello,
the most common cause of right heart failure is left side heart failure. Heart failure is basically divided into heart failure with decreased ejection fraction (it reflects the pumping capacity of the heart)and one with preserved ejection fraction. If his Basic workup has been done it would include ecg and echo complete hemogram ,Screatinine would be done. Considering the medications heart failure seems to be likely but cause seems uncertain. It may be due to hypertension or coronary artery disease.
If you plan to investigate next month tell him to take basic precautions
1 Salt restriction upto 2 gm /day
2 maintain a strict weight charting and consult doctor in case of major fluctuations
3 get electrolytes checked regularly as three diuretics may cause many disturbances
the most common cause of right heart failure is left side heart failure. Heart failure is basically divided into heart failure with decreased ejection fraction (it reflects the pumping capacity of the heart)and one with preserved ejection fraction. If his Basic workup has been done it would include ecg and echo complete hemogram ,Screatinine would be done. Considering the medications heart failure seems to be likely but cause seems uncertain. It may be due to hypertension or coronary artery disease.
If you plan to investigate next month tell him to take basic precautions
1 Salt restriction upto 2 gm /day
2 maintain a strict weight charting and consult doctor in case of major fluctuations
3 get electrolytes checked regularly as three diuretics may cause many disturbances
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