Management of fluid overload in congestive heart failure: Learning from a case report

SALVATORI, G.
RONCO, F.
BONELLO, M.
BOTTERO, M.

Department of Intensive Care, Nephrology and Cardiology, St. Bortolo Hospital, Vicenza - Italy

Address for correspondence: Gabriella Salvatori, MD Department of Intensive Care Nephrology and Cardiology St. Bortolo Hospital Viale Rodolfi, 37 36100 Vicenza, Italy e-mail: [email protected]

The International Journal of Artificial Organs 29(2):p 187-196, February 2006.

ABSTRACT:

A case of refractory fluid overload due to congestive heart failure and consequent renal insufficiency is reported. The case was approached multidisciplinarily, at the beginning with conservative and pharmacological therapy, subsequently with extracorporeal fluid removal in which a specific attention was payed to the maintenance of circulating blood volume and achievement of dry weight, and finally with chronic peritoneal dialysis as a maintenance therapy. The case seems to summarize the pathway of many patients seen initially in intensive care and cardiology departments and subsequently in nephrological wards.