Patient/caregiver was instructed regarding complications of left-sided heart failure as follows:
- Worsening of heart failure: Persistent back-up of fluid in the heart chambers can lead to increased workload on the heart, progressive deterioration of heart function, further weakening of heart muscle, and worsening of heart failure. Patients can present with worsening symptoms of heart failure, such as, fluid retention in the chest leading to difficulty in gas exchange in the lungs, swelling of the extremities with pitting edema, and grossly limited exercise tolerance with exacerbation of episodes of shortness of breath.
- Blood clot formation: Compromised heart function with fluid back-up, in individuals with heart failure, can increase the risk for blood clot formation. A case of coexisting arrhythmia can increase the risk for clot significantly. These blood clots floating in circulation can be deposited in any vital organ as emboli, obstruct the blood flow, and can result in serious complications such as myocardial infarction and stroke.
- Acute weight gain: Fluid back-up and edema due to heart failure can contribute to acute weight gain.
