Monika Kirschová1, Marián Hrebík2, Katarína Furková3, Mária Pisarčíková1
Congestive heart failure (CHF) is generally considered to be a progressive clinical syndrome of various etiology, characteristic signs and symptoms, which differ considerably among adults and children of different age groups. CHF as a clinically defined entity represents the manifestation of pathophysiological syndrome involving various circulatory, neurohumoral and molecular abnormalities. Better understanding of the pathophysiology of heart failure, the progress in its diagnosis and the improvement of intervention techniques and therapy has led to increased survival of children with congenital and acquired heart anomalies and diseases. Consequently, the trend of improved survival has increased the number of those inevitably progressing to CHF.