#469 Inpatient Heart Failure

In this episode of The Curbsiders, Drs. Monee Amin and Meredith Trubitt interview Dr. Gurusher Panjrath about inpatient heart failure management. The discussion covers the initial assessment of patients presenting with acute decompensated heart failure, the role of point-of-care ultrasound, and when to order echocardiograms. Dr. Panjrath provides guidance on diuretic therapy, including the use of furosemide, bumetanide, and torsemide, as well as adjunct diuretics like SGLT2 inhibitors and acetazolamide. The conversation also addresses the importance of afterload reduction, accurate monitoring of fluid balance, and the role of sodium and fluid restriction. Additionally, they discuss the classification of heart failure, guideline-directed medical therapies, ischemic evaluation, and strategies for medication management, patient education, and transition of care to improve patient outcomes.