This section will help you understand Heart Failure, the common tests performed to diagnose heart failure, and available treatment options. Please also view our "Patient Education Module" which gives comprehensive information on ABIOMED technology (BVS 5000 and AB5000) to patients and families.

What is Congestive Heart Failure?
The terms Congestive Heart Failure, or Heart Failure, mean the heart is not pumping effectively to meet the body's demand for blood and oxygen. Usually the heart has been weakened over time by an underlying problem, such as clogged arteries, high blood pressure, a defect in its muscular walls or valves, or some other medical condition.

How Common is Heart Failure?
About 5 million Americans are living with Heart Failure, with 550,000 new cases diagnosed each year. Congestive heart failure affects people of all ages. However, it is most common among older people.

What are the risk factors for Heart Failure?
The following factors may increase your risk for heart failure:

• High blood pressure (hypertension)
• Heart attack (myocardial infarction)
• Abnormal heart valves
• Enlargement of the heart
• Family history of heart disease
• Diabetes

Keep in mind that these are "risk" factors and do not necessarily lead to heart failure. Only your physician can make a definitive diagnosis, using a number of tests to rule out or confirm heart failure.

How is heart failure diagnosed?
Only your doctor can diagnose that you have heart failure. To check your heart's pumping ability more thoroughly, your doctor may order one or several of the following diagnostic tests:

Echocardiogram—also called echo, is a key indicator of your heart's function. An echo provides a measurement of how well your heart is pumping. It measures the ejection fraction (EF) or the percentage of blood pumped out of the left ventricle with each heartbeat.

Chest x-ray—assesses the heart's size and shape, as well as any abnormalities within the lungs. If heart failure is present, the chest x-ray may show the heart to be enlarged or it may show fluid in the lungs.

Exercise test (stress test)—assesses how well your heart functions when you exercise.

Cardiac catheterization—an invasive diagnostic test to measure pressures in the heart and evaluate cardiac (heart) structures. It is most often used to determine if there are any "blockages" in the arteries that supply the heart muscle with blood.

What are the treatment options for heart failure?
Only your doctor can make a definitive diagnosis of heart failure. Together, you and your doctor will decide on the best course of treatment. Treatment options for Heart Failure include the following:

Heart Valve replacement
Heart failure is sometimes the fault of a malfunctioning or diseased heart valve. Heart valves regulate the flow of blood inside the heart. When they don't work properly, extra strain is placed on the heart. This can lead to heart failure. Replacing the malfunctioning or diseased heart valve can improve the patient's condition.

Angioplasty
Heart failure is sometimes caused by a blockage in the arteries (coronary arteries) that supply the heart with blood and oxygen. Removing these blockages can often improve overall heart function, which may improve or resolve heart failure symptoms. Angioplasty is used to reopen blocked vessels.

Coronary artery bypass
Coronary artery bypass reroutes the blood supply around a blocked section of the coronary artery.

Heart transplant
Heart transplant may be the only effective treatment option for people whose heart failure has progresses so that they may not be treated with medications or lifestyle changes.

Ventricular assist device (VAD)
Ventricular assist devices are utilized for a patient whose heart needs total support. They can completely take over the pumping function of either the left, right or both sides of the heart, allowing it the opportunity to rest and recover, while still supplying the rest of the body with the vital nutrients and oxygen it needs to survive.

Total Artificial Heart (TAH)
A Total Artificial Heart is for use in end-stage heart failure patients whose hearts have irreversible left and right ventricular failure and for whom surgery or medical therapy is inadequate.

Links to additional information on Heart Failure
American Heart Association
Heart Failure Society of America
WebMD
HeartCenterOnLine
AboutHF.org