The Elusive Target of Congestive Heart Failure Treatment: Delaying the Inevitable

The authors presented a case of heart failure with reduced ejection fraction and low systolic blood pressure who had multiple pharmacological treatment of his condition but without avail. Treatment with renal replacement therapy in the form of veno-venous hemodiafiltration to manage fluid overload and worsening renal failure did not materialized and eventually the patient succumbed to his disease. This case showed the expensive and futile measures that physicians might chose for their patients knowing that they are only delaying the inevitable.

Keywords: congestive heart failure, left ventricular ejection fraction, heart failure with preserved ejection fraction, heart failure with reduced ejection fraction, LV mass, end-diastolic volume, pulmonary capillary wedge pressure, Brain natriuretic peptide, N-terminal pro-BNP, Left ventricular assisted device (LVAD).