Right-sided heart failure

Alternative names:

congestive heart failure - right

Treatment:

The goals of treatment include the reduction of cardiac work load, control of symptoms, and improvement of heart function.

Heart failure requires monitoring of the condition by the health care provider. Hospitalization may be required if the symptoms are severe or unstable or there is failure to respond to initial treatment. The underlying disorders and precipitating factors should be treated if possible. This may require medications, surgery, or behavior modification.

Bedrest or reduced physical activity may be recommended to minimize the heart's work load. Decreased dietary sodium (salt) may be recommended. Decreased fluid intake may be recommended.

Vasodilator medications such as captopril, enalapril, and hydralazine may be used to reduce the heart's work load. Diuretic medications may be used to reduce fluid accumulation. This includes loop diuretics (such as furosemide and bumetanide) for moderate symptoms, thiazide diuretics (such as hydrochlorothiazide, chlorthalidone, and chlorothiazide) for mild symptoms, and combination diuretics. Digitalis may be prescribed to increase the muscle contraction of the heart.

Long term recommendations may include:

• weight loss
• eliminating smoking and alcohol consumption (both decrease the pumping efficiency of the heart).

Expectations (prognosis):

Heart failure is a serious disorder that carries a possibility of reduced life expectancy. There is no cure, but many forms of heart failure are well controlled with medication and correction of the underlying disorders. It may take the form of a chronic illness. Heart failure worsens with an infection or other physical stressors.

Complications:

• involvement of both sides of the heart
• arrhythmias including lethal arrhythmias
• side effects of medications
  • low blood pressure (hypotension)
  • lightheadedness, fainting
  • headache
  • GI upset
  • digitalis toxicity
  • electrolyte imbalances

Calling your health care provider:

Call your health care provider if symptoms indicate congestive heart failure may be present.

Call your health care provider if symptoms change, worsen, or do not improve with treatment.

Also call if chest pain, weakness, fainting, rapid or irregular heartbeat, sudden weight gain or swelling, or other new or unexplained symptoms develop.