Cardiology
Acute Heart Failure
Assessment and treatment of acute decompensated heart failure including diuresis, vasodilator therapy, and escalation.
Source: ESC 2021 Heart Failure Guidelines; NICE NG106
Step 1 of ~9
action
Initial Assessment
Immediate assessment:
• SpO₂, RR, HR, BP (sitting and standing), JVP, lung auscultation (crepitations), peripheral oedema, S3 gallop
• ECG: AF, ischaemia, LBBB (consider CRT), QRS duration
• CXR: cardiomegaly, pulmonary oedema (upper lobe diversion, Kerley B lines, bat-wing opacities)
• Bloods: FBC, U&E (creatinine, sodium), BNP/NT-proBNP, troponin, TFTs, LFTs, glucose
• Bedside echo if available: EF, valvular disease, IVC plethora
Related
Curated clinical cross-links plus same-class fallbacks.
Drugs
Pathways
- NSTEMI / Unstable Angina · ESC 2020 NSTEMI Guidelines; NICE NG185
- New-Onset Atrial Fibrillation · ESC 2020 AF Guidelines; NICE NG196
- Hypertensive Emergency · ESC/ESH 2018 Hypertension Guidelines; NICE NG136
- Bradycardia Management · Resuscitation Council UK ABCDE; ESC 2021 Pacing Guidelines
- Ventricular Tachycardia / Fibrillation · Resuscitation Council UK ACLS; ESC 2022 Ventricular Arrhythmia Guidelines
- Syncope Assessment · ESC 2018 Syncope Guidelines; NICE NG109
Decision support only. Always apply local guidelines and clinical judgement.