Heart Failure Guidelines and Implications for Surgically Treating Heart Failure

In 2005, the American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association released updated guidelines for the diagnosis and management of chronic heart failure in the adult, yielding new insights into the progression and treatment of this disease. Perioperative nurses need a working knowledge of these guidelines to provide optimal care when patients require surgical interventions for heart failure. This article provides an overview of the pathophysiology, classifications, and treatments for heart failure. AORN J 90 (December 2009) 874-888. © AORN, Inc, 2009.