Suspected Acute Heart Failure Clinical Pathway – Emergency Department, ICU and Inpatient – Cohort

Suspected Acute Heart Failure Clinical Pathway – Emergency Department, ICU and Inpatient

Cohort

This pathway guides the evaluation and initial treatment of children with suspected heart failure (HF).

  • Acute decompensated HF is defined as cardiac dysfunction resulting in inadequate peripheral oxygen delivery at rest or during stress.
  • Can be either new onset, or result from decompensation of chronic HF with symptoms that warrant hospitalization.
  • Dysfunction may manifest as primarily systolic, diastolic, or mixed. Clinical symptoms and signs can vary substantially during the disease course and may not correlate with changes in underlying cardiac function.

Children with acute decompensated HF may deteriorate rapidly with medical interventions such as endotracheal intubation and IV fluid administration and therefore the symptoms must be recognized early.

Inclusion Criteria

  • Chronic HF with acute decompensation
  • New onset heart failure
  • Cardiogenic shock

Exclusion Criteria

  • Infants receiving prostaglandins or a potential need for prostaglandin infusion