HFSA 2006 Comprehensive Heart Failure Practice Guideline: Introduction and Table of Contents

Article Outline

• Abstract
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Abstract 

Heart failure (HF) is a syndrome characterized by high mortality, frequent hospitalization, reduced quality of life, and a complex therapeutic regimen. Knowledge about HF is accumulating so rapidly that individual clinicians may be unable to readily and adequately synthesize new information into effective strategies of care for patients with this syndrome. Trial data, though valuable, often do not give direction for individual patient management. These characteristics make HF an ideal candidate for practice guidelines. The 2006 Heart Failure Society of America comprehensive practice guideline addresses the full range of evaluation, care, and management of patients with HF.

Key Words: Heart failure, practice guidelines

Committee Members

Kirkwood F. Adams, Jr, MD¹ (Co-Chair)

JoAnn Lindenfeld, MD² (Co-Chair)

J. Malcolm O. Arnold, MDBarry M. Massie, MD

David W. Baker, MDMandeep R. Mehra, MD

Denise H. Barnard, MDAlan B. Miller, MD

Kenneth Lee Baughman, MDDebra K. Moser, RN, DNSc

John P. Boehmer, MDJ. Herbert Patterson, PharmD

Prakash Deedwania, MDRichard J. Rodeheffer, MD

Sandra B. Dunbar, RN, DSNJonathan Sackner-Bernstein, MD

Uri Elkayam, MDMarc A. Silver, MD

Mihai Gheorghiade, MDRandall C. Starling, MD, MPH

Jonathan G. Howlett, MDLynne Warner Stevenson, MD

Marvin A. Konstam, MDLynne E. Wagoner, MD

Marvin W. Kronenberg, MD

Executive Council

Gary S. Francis, MD, President

Michael R. Bristow, MD, PhDPeter P. Liu, MD

Jay N. Cohn, MDDouglas L. Mann, MD

Wilson S. Colucci, MDIleana L. Piña, MD

Barry H. Greenberg, MDSusan J. Pressler, RN, DNS

Thomas Force, MDHani N. Sabbah, PhD

Harlan M. Krumholz, MDClyde W. Yancy, MD

Table of Contents

HFSA 2006 Comprehensive Heart Failure Practice Guideline

Title Page and Abstracte1

Section 1: Development and Implementation of a Comprehensive Heart Failure Practice Guidelinee3

Section 2: Conceptualization and Working Definition of Heart Failuree10

Section 3: Prevention of Ventricular Remodeling, Cardiac Dysfunction, and Heart Failuree12

Section 4: Evaluation of Patients for Ventricular Dysfunction and Heart Failuree16

Section 5: Management of Asymptomatic Patients With Reduced Left Ventricular Ejection Fractione26

Section 6: Nonpharmacologic Management and Health Care Maintenance in Patients With Chronic Heart Failuree29

Section 7: Heart Failure in Patients With Left Ventricular Systolic Dysfunctione38

Section 8: Disease Management in Heart Failuree58

Section 9: Electrophysiologic Testing and the Use of Devices in Heart Failuree70

Section 10: Surgical Approaches to the Treatment of Heart Failuree76

Section 11: Evaluation and Management of Patients With Heart Failure and Preserved Left Ventricular Ejection Fractione80

Section 12: Evaluation and Management of Patients With Acute Decompensated Heart Failuree86

Section 13: Evaluation and Therapy for Heart Failure in the Setting of Ischemic Heart Diseasee103

Section 14: Managing Patients With Hypertension and Heart Failuree111

Section 15: Management of Heart Failure in Special Populationse114

Section 16: Myocarditis: Current Treatmente119

• 1 From the Heart Failure Program, University of North Carolina–Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
• 2 Department of Cardiology, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, Denver, Colorado.