The Heart Failure Exam

Summary
This infographic provides a visual guide for evaluating heart failure using the “A, B, C, L” classification, with focus on congestion and perfusion status. The classification helps identify patients’ profiles as warm and dry (A), warm and wet (B), cold and wet (C), and cold and dry (L). Each section highlights the invasive correlates, sensitive markers, and specific clinical features to guide the evaluation and management of heart failure, including invasive measures like PCWP and CI, and physical markers such as JVP, pulse pressure, and symptoms like orthopnea and bendopnea. It also emphasizes recognizing heart failure mimics and considering advanced therapies for patients with recurring or refractory symptoms.

Produced by: Dr. Alexandra Pipilas

CardioNerds Infographics

Explore our comprehensive collection of infographics, categorized by cardiovascular topics such as heart failure and transplantation, arrhythmias and electrophysiology, cardio-obstetrics, cardiovascular imaging, congenital heart disease, prevention, coronary artery disease, critical care, hypertension, pericardial disease, pulmonary hypertension, valvular heart disease, vascular disease, women’s cardiovascular health, diversity, inclusion, and more!

Feel free to download and share these visuals in presentations or on social media. Please use the infographics as provided—without altering or cropping out the creators’ credit.

For even more learning, explore the CardioNerds Tweetorial Page, featuring a curated collection of educational tweetorials!