Clinical Research Directory

Inclusion Criteria: * patients who have appropriate symptoms (short-ness of breath or fatigue)(\<7 days duration); with clinical signs of fluid retention (pulmonary or peripheral) in the presence of an underlying abnormality of cardiac structure or function. * If in doubt, a beneficial response to treatment (eg, a brisk diuresis accompanied by improvement in breathlessness) will be considered. Exclusion Criteria: * Patients who did not fit the definition of AHF or who were clearly too ill to be considered for discharge after 24 hours from ED: * 1\) resting oxygen saturation \<85% on room air * 2\) heart rate \>120 beats/min; * 3\) systolic blood pressure \<85 mm Hg; * 4\) confusion, disorientation, dementia; * 5\) primary presentation for ischemic chest pain requiring treatment or with acute ischemic ST-Tchanges on initial electrocardiogram (ECG);