Summary Writer:  Jane McDonnell

Script Writer:  Kate Kearney Graham

Editor:  Sean Lal

Interviewee:  Sean Lal

James Edwards does a two-part chat with Dr. Sean Lal. Sean's clinical and research interests are in heart failure.
Heart Failure
In Part 1 we go through what heart failure is. You will learn what diastolic dysfunction is and why it causes heart failure. And we will also go through an example case.

In Part 2 we look at how best to investigate, what are the common precipitants, what type of drugs are used and when to escalate care.

Broadly speaking we have two types, heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) and with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF).
HFrEF and HFpEF
HFrEF is systolic dysfunction of the left ventricle (LV).

HFpEF (where EF ³50%) is becoming increasingly more common. In such a setting, the LV is stiff and non-compliant and there is diastolic dysfunction so the LV doesn’t fill as easily. The classic example is a patient with LV hypertrophy (LVH). For example, in the setting of aortic stenosis with comorbidities such as hypertension, obesity, and diabetes.

This is a common cluster of symptoms in the community.
About Dr. Sean Lal
Sean Lal is a clinical academic cardiologist at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital and the University of Sydney in NSW, Australia. He undertook his training at the University of Sydney, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital and Harvard Medical School.