A novel strategy to reduce the readmission rates in congestive heart failure: intermittent empirical intravenous diuretics.

Abstract

Improvements in the medical management of heart failure have changed the course of the disease. However, mortality rates, hospitalization rates, and treatment costs are not at desired levels. Diuretics have been widely used in the treatment of congestion in heart failure patients. The following case reports represent a special patient group treated and followed by cardiology clinic. Treatment approach of each case report has been tailored on an individual basis depending on the clinical course and hospitalization rates of patients. Authors have highlighted and discussed the common aspects and future perspectives of their cases in which post-discharge intermittent empirical intravenous diuretic administration dramatically improved the clinical status and readmission number due to decompensated congestive heart failure. This is a relatively new and promising approach, which has been thought to cease the recycle of diuretic resistance and silent increase of fluid congestion in patients with congestive heart failure and frequent hospitalization.