High output failure

Overview
In high output cardiac failure, the cardiac output is increased, and the systemic vascular resistance (SVR) is low. Rather than an inadequate supply of blood flow to meet normal metabolic demands as occurs in low output failure, in high output failure there is an excess requirement for oxygen and nutrients and the demand outstrips what the heart can provide.

Conditions to Differentiate High Output Cardiac Failure From
In low cardiac output failure, the cardiac output is reduced, and the systemic vascular resistance (SVR) is high. In low output failure, there is an inadequate supply of blood flow to meet normal metabolic demands.

Differential Diagnosis of High Output Failure

 * Anemia
 * Arteriovenous fistulae, or arteriovenous malformations
 * Beriberi (vitamin B1/thiamine deficiency
 * Paget's disease
 * Gram negative septicaemia,
 * Thyrotoxicosis