Congestive heart failure complications

Associate Editor-in-Chief: Varun Kumar, M.B.B.S.; Lakshmi Gopalakrishnan, M.B.B.S.

Complications of heart failure
1. Cardiac Arrhythmias:
 * Ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation can occur as serious complications of heart failure when its pump function is severely impaired. This further worsens the cardiac output and even possible death.
 * Atrial fibrillation which is rapid beating of atrium without optimal forward pumping of blood is another complication of heart failure which occurs as a result of resistance to blood flow from atrium to ventricles. These patients are at increased risk of stroke.
 * Left bundle branch block is an abnormality in electrical conduction in the heart.

2. Congestion:
 * Pulmonary congestion which occur in left ventricular failure can cause pulmonary edema.
 * Venous stasis and pedal edema can occur as a complication of right heart failure. These conditions predispose patients to venous ulcers, infections and cellulites.
 * Cardiac cirrhosis occurs as a result of hepatic venous congestion. This can lead to coma and even death.

3. Angina and myocardial infarction: Cardiac ischemia and infarction can also occur when heart failure patients undergo exertion.

4. Renal failure: Renal impairment can occur secondary to decreased renal perfusion. This further worsens heart failure by fluid retention.

5. Cardiac cachexia: Unintentional rapid weight loss (a loss of at least 7.5% of normal weight within 6 months) can occur in chronic heart failure. This is a bad prognostic factor.