[Acute heart failure - a unique challenge]

Acute heart failure (AHF) is frequent, often life threatening and followed by emergency hospitalization. Leading symptoms are dyspnea, edema and fatigue. A broad spectrum of risk factors, cardiac diseases and comorbidities predisposes to AHF. Typical triggers (e. g. arrhythmias) modulate the individual clinical picture. Their misinterpretation may delay the diagnosis, which always needs to be ascertained by cardiac imaging (echocardiography). Rescue therapy aims at amelioration of symptoms and stabilization of vital parameters. In contrast to chronic heart failure evidence of the efficacy of available treatments is limited and in the past innovations have been sparse in this area. The clinical course is characterized by high short- and long-term mortality and repeat cardiac decompensations, but seamless multidisciplinary care and better knowledge and self-supervision on the patients' side might improve prognosis. Today, too little attention is paid to the palliative needs of patients with AHF.