Therapeutic strategy for a patient with advanced heart failure and schizophrenia without cardiac replacement therapies

Abstract

We had a 58-year-old man with advanced heart failure and progressive end-organ dysfunction refractory to inotropes. Following detailed discussions, he decided not to receive ventricular assist device therapy considering his comorbidity of schizophrenia. A palliative care team initiated 2.5 mg of morphine together with low-dose anti-heart failure medications, which improved not only his heart failure symptoms but also the congestive heart failure itself. Aggressive commitments of the palliative care team might improve not only patients’ quality of life but also advanced heart failure itself.