Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 9, 2026

Benefits of Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy in an Asynchronous Heart Failure Model Induced by Left Bundle Branch Ablation and Rapid Pacing
Published on: December 11, 2017
What's new in the treatment of acute heart failure?
1Division of Cardiology, University of California, San Francisco, Box 0124, 505 Parnassus Ave, San Francisco, CA 94143-0124, USA. van.selby@ucsf.edu
Abstract:
Acute heart failure is associated with substantial morbidity and mortality. Goals of treatment are decongestion, correction of hemodynamic abnormalities, symptom relief, and reducing long-term morbidity and mortality. Loop diuretics are a first-line agent for treatment of volume overload, with ultrafiltration reserved for those who do not respond to pharmacologic therapy. In patients with normal or elevated blood pressure, vasodilators are used to correct hemodynamics and reverse central volume redistribution, although no currently available agent has been shown to improve outcomes. Intravenous inotropes and inodilators are associated with frequent adverse effects and are reserved for patients with hypotension and evidence of inadequate perfusion. Novel drugs designed to maximize hemodynamic benefits while minimizing adverse effects are under investigation, with several agents showing promise in clinical studies.
Related Concept Videos
Heart Failure VI: Adjunct Therapies
Heart Failure V: Medical Management
Heart Failure Drugs: Inhibitors of Renin-Angiotensin System
Heart Failure Drugs: Diuretics
Heart Failure Drugs: β-Blockers
Heart Failure IV: Classification and Diagnostic Evaluation