Acute heart failure

Acute heart failure (AHF) refers to a clinical syndrome caused by acute onset or aggravation of left ventricular dysfunction resulting in decreased myocardial contractility and increased cardiac load, leading to a sudden drop in cardiac output, increased pulmonary circulation pressure, and increased peripheral circulatory resistance, causing pulmonary circulatory congestion with acute pulmonary congestion, pulmonary edema, and possibly accompanied by tissue and organ hypoperfusion and cardiogenic shock. Left heart failure is the most common form. Acute heart failure can be an acute exacerbation on the basis of pre-existing chronic heart failure or a sudden onset. Most patients have underlying organic cardiovascular disease before onset, and it may manifest as systolic heart failure or diastolic heart failure. Acute heart failure is often life-threatening and requires emergency treatment.