Congestive Heart Failure ( CHF) is the inability of the heart to pump a sufficient amount of oxygen to meet the metabolic needs of the body. In infants and children, inadequate cardiac output most commonly is caused by congenital heart defects (shunt, obstruction, or a combination of both) that produce an excessive volume or pressure load on the myocardium.
In infants and children, a combination of left-sided and right-sided heart failure is usually present.
Congestive Heart Failure Assessment of early signs
- Tachycardia, especially during rest and slight exertion
- Tachypnea
- Profuse scalp diaphoresis, especially in infants
- Fatigue and irritability
- Sudden weight gain
- Respiratory distress
Left-Sided Failure Signs and Symptoms
- Crackles and wheezes
- Cough
- Dyspnea
- Grunting (infants)
- Head bobbing (infants)
- Nasal flaring
- Orthopnea
- Periods of cyanosis
- Retractions
- Tachypnea
Right-Sided Failure
- Ascites
- Hepatosplenomegaly
- Jugular vein distention
- Oliguria
- Peripheral edema, especially
- dependent edema, and
- periorbital edema
- Weight gain
