Treating the Cardiorenal Syndrome: A Sledgehammer for a Needle's Work?

When providing care for the patient with advanced heart failure (HF), both diuretic resistance and worsening renal function (i.e. cardiorenal syndrome) are common occurrences associated with poor outcomes.1, 2 When the rise in intravascular volume in decompensated HF exceeds the venous bed compliance, a venous backpressure in the kidney will occur. The ability of the kidneys to excrete salt and water in decompensated HF is to some degree related to this venous backpressure out of the kidney as well as the forward arterial perfusion into the kidney.
Source: Journal of Cardiac Failure - Category: Cardiology Authors: Tags: Editorial Comment Source Type: research