[Diastolic dysfunction in the elderly]. / La dysfonction diastolique de la personne agée.

Diastolic heart failure, or preserved systolic function, represents around half of all cases of heart failure. It is important to be aware of the mechanisms involved in order to be able to treat it correctly, in an ageing population which sees a higher incidence of this pathology.

Cardiac support devices.

Heart failure is an increasingly common condition in the United States and is associated with high mortality and burden to health care. It is a chronic condition that is characterized by progressive left ventricular enlargement. While medical therapy can slow the progression of left ventricular remodeling, surgical approaches to treatment have been developed to improve the survival and quality of life of heart failure patients. This article reviews the surgical procedures for left ventricular dysfunction and focuses on cardiac support devices as a new therapy for heart failure patients. The nursing care of patients with cardiac support devices will be presented and a case study will highlight practical points to help guide patient care.

Current therapies in the management of systolic and diastolic dysfunction.

Heart failure, especially caused by systolic dysfunction, is the most common cause of hospitalization in the elderly population and the annual expenditure required for its management is at least $10 billion. The critical care nurse can play an active role in recognizing the differences between systolic and diastolic dysfunction, and teaching the patient and family that improper management or underuse of therapies can lead to disease progression.