Dr. Sudhir Suryakant Shetkar is a young and dynamic cardiologist who did his graduation from Grant Medical College, Mumbai and his post-graduation in internal medicine from Saurashtra University. Thereafter he got trained as the cardiologist from the prestigious All India Institute of Cardiology (AIIMS), New Delhi. What is the most common cause of right heart failure? Left heart failure is the most common cause of right heart failure. When anything causes left heart failure — ischemia, valve disease, cardiomyopathy, etc — the left ventricular pressure increases and transmits back to the lungs, causing pulmonary hypertension. This then strains the right heart and eventually causes right heart failure. Know the difference between signs/symptoms of left vs. right heart failure. What are the causes of atrial fibrillation? Remember the mnemonic PIRATES for the causes of atrial fibrillation. This is quite a comprehensive list: Pulmonary embolism, Pulmonary disease, Post-operative Ischemic heart disease, Idiopathic (“lone atrial fibrillation”), IV central line (irritating the right atrium) Rheumatic valvular disease (mitral stenosis or regurgitation) Anemia, alcohol (“holiday heart”), Age, Autonomic tone (vagal atrial fibrillation) Thyroid disease (hyperthyroidism) Elevated blood pressure (hypertension), Electrocution Sleep apnea, Sepsis, Surgery What are the causes of congestive heart failure exacerbations? Medication non-compliance (not taking diuretics or other medications) Fluid/sodium restriction non-compliance Acute worsening of... read more