Initial presentation and management of pediatric heart failure

Amy J Romer1, Satish K Rajagopal, Rebecca J Kameny

  • 1Division of Pediatric Critical Care, Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA.

Insights

Pediatric heart failure requires high suspicion for accurate diagnosis in the emergency department (ED). This review offers ED physicians a framework for managing heart failure in children, especially those with structurally normal hearts.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Cardiology
  • Emergency Medicine
  • Critical Care

Background:

  • Pediatric heart failure is a rare but serious condition.
  • Accurate diagnosis relies on physician suspicion and understanding of varied presentations.
  • Limited studies exist due to rarity and condition heterogeneity.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To provide emergency department (ED) physicians with a framework for diagnosing and managing pediatric heart failure.
  • To emphasize the importance of high suspicion in ED settings.
  • To focus on heart failure in structurally normal hearts.

Main Methods:

  • Review of recent studies on pediatric heart failure epidemiology, presentation, and outcomes.
  • Synthesis of diagnostic and management challenges.
  • Focus on emergency department physician's perspective.

Main Results:

  • Pediatric heart failure presents diagnostic and management challenges due to nonspecific signs and symptoms.
  • Recent reports offer new insights into epidemiology and outcomes.
  • A structured approach is crucial for efficient diagnosis and management.

Conclusions:

  • ED physicians need familiarity with pediatric heart failure presentation, work-up, and management.
  • A high degree of suspicion is essential for accurate diagnosis.
  • This review aids in understanding and managing pediatric heart failure, particularly in structurally normal hearts.
Abstract

Related Concept Videos

Heart Failure V: Medical Management01:30

Heart Failure V: Medical Management

Medical Management of Acute Decompensated Heart Failure (ADHF)The primary goals of therapy for patients hospitalized with acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF) include:Relieving symptomsOptimizing volume statusSupporting oxygenation and ventilationMaintaining cardiac output (CO) and end-organ perfusionIdentifying and addressing the cause of ADHFPreventing complicationsProviding patient education on factors precipitating HF exacerbationPlanning for dischargeOngoing monitoring and assessment...
363
Self-Presentation: Self-Monitoring and Self-Handicapping02:05

Self-Presentation: Self-Monitoring and Self-Handicapping

People can go to great lengths to protect their self-image and present themselves in ways that they want others to see them. Sociologist Erving Goffman presented the idea that a person is like an actor on a stage. Calling his theory dramaturgy, Goffman believed that we use “impression management” to present ourselves to others as we hope to be perceived. Each situation is a new scene, and individuals perform different roles depending on who is present (Goffman, 1959). Think about...
44.8K
Heart Failure II: Pathophysiology01:29

Heart Failure II: Pathophysiology

Systolic Heart Failure and Compensatory MechanismsSystolic heart failure (also termed HFrEF, Heart Failure with Reduced Ejection Fraction) is the most prevalent type of heart filure. It results in a decreased volume of blood being pumped from the ventricle. The aortic arch and carotid sinuses have baroreceptors that detect reduced blood pressure, triggering the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) to release epinephrine and norepinephrine. Initially, this response aims to boost heart rate and...
1.0K
Pathophysiology of Heart Failure01:17

Pathophysiology of Heart Failure

Heart failure (HF) is a progressive syndrome involving ventricles that leads to inadequate cardiac output. It can be classified based on location and output or ejection fraction. Ejection fraction (EF) is an essential measurement in the diagnosis and surveillance of HF. Reduced EF corresponds to systolic heart failure (HFrEF). However, HF with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is becoming increasingly prevalent. Also known as diastolic HF, this form of HF is related to aging. The...
4.0K
Heart Failure I: Introduction01:27

Heart Failure I: Introduction

Heart failure refers to a clinical syndrome caused by structural or functional cardiac disorders that prevent the heart from pumping an adequate amount of blood to meet the body's metabolic needs. This condition often arises from myocardial infarction or ischemia, leading to decreased cardiac output, reduced tissue perfusion, impaired gas exchange, fluid volume imbalance, and decreased functional ability.Heart failure can result from disruptions in the mechanisms that regulate cardiac output...
958
Heart Failure VI: Adjunct Therapies01:22

Heart Failure VI: Adjunct Therapies

Additional therapies for treating patients with heart failure (HF) may include procedural interventions, supplemental oxygen, the management of sleep disorders, and nutritional therapy.Procedural InterventionsImplantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator: For patients at risk of life-threatening arrhythmias due to severe left ventricular dysfunction, an Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator (ICD) can detect and terminate these arrhythmias, preventing sudden cardiac death and improving survival rates.
399