Invasive testing in congestive heart failure

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Cardiac catheterization of patients with congestive heart failure (CHF) can provide information that may indicate the cause of the CHF, suggest its prognosis, or serve as a basis for treatment decisions. Under what circumstances do CHF patients require hemodynamic assessment? What are the benefits of contrast angiography and coronary arteriography? Why is it important to consider endomyocardial biopsy in any patient with CHF who does not have significant coronary or valvular disease? Dr Murali addresses these and other questions.

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Srinivas Murali

Srinivas Murali, MD Dr Murali is associate professor of medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, and medical director, University of Pittsburgh Adult Cardiac Transplant Program. His research interests include pulmonary hypertension in chronic congestive heart failure and evaluation of new pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic treatments in end-stage cardiac disease.