Recognizing congestive heart failure in the neonatal period

Signs of congestive heart failure can be subtle and vary in the time frame of presentation. As a result, this diagnosis is often missed in its early stages. This article reviews risk factors for myocardial dysfunction in the newborn period. Additionally, there is a comprehensive overview of cardiac physiology as it relates to the presentation of symptoms of congestive heart failure. This information is presented to provide a foundation of knowledge related to physiologic changes involved in congestive heart failure so that the health care provider can recognize congestive heart failure early.