Pediatric Cardiac Intensive Care Society 2014 Consensus Statement: Pharmacotherapies in Cardiac Critical Care Treatment of Acute Heart Failure.

OBJECTIVES: To provide an evidence-based review of pharmacotherapies to treat acute heart failure. To accomplish this objective, we will discuss circulatory physiology, vasoactive agents, and their indications in the management of acute heart failure. DATA SOURCE: A MEDLINE-baseline review of the literature. CONCLUSIONS: The optimal selection of vasoactive agents requires a consideration of circulatory physiology and the tailored application of pharmacotherapies to treat patients with acute heart failure.