Congestive Heart Failure Treatment: Specialized Care for Severe Disease
As the disease progresses, lifestyle changes and regular medications may not be enough to control worsening symptoms. Many people with severe
heart failure must be put in the hospital from time to time for
congestive heart failure treatment. In the hospital, your doctor may prescribe new or special medicines. You also continue to take your regular medicines during this treatment.
Your doctor may also order extra oxygen if you continue to have trouble breathing. This oxygen can be given in the hospital and at home.
People with very severe heart failure may be considered for a:
- Mechanical heart pump
- Heart transplant.
A heart pump is a special device placed inside the body to help pump blood to the rest of the body. There are different kinds of heart pumps. Some stay in the body for a short period of time, while others stay in the body for a long time. Many people with a heart pump will also be considered for a heart transplant.
A heart transplant is surgery to replace the heart of a patient with heart failure with a healthy heart from someone who has recently died. A transplant is indicated in some people when all other congestive heart failure treatments fail to control their symptoms.
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