Prognosis for Congestive Heart Failure and Asbestosis

A family member was recently diagnosed with Asbestosis from years of working in the construction indusrty. He underwent Bypass surgery a few years ago and had developed Congestive heart Failure. The doctor recently told him that the fluid in his lungs is increaseing and if medications do not begin to work they may have to drain his lungs. He was also told by the doctor that his Congestive heart failure has worsened due the Asbestosis. I do not  feel as though the doctor is doing anything to truly help him. He can barely walk from one room to another without losing breathe. He can not sleep and is now vomiting every morning when he awakens. How effective are these treatments and what is the prognosis at this stage? Are there additional treatments out there to try? I feel like each day he gets worse, not better. It is getting very hard to watch, I feel like there has to be more someone can do?

[Cleveland Clinic]

Heart failure management depends largely on the cause of heart failure.  If congestive heart failure is due to systolic dysfunction due to either coronary artery disease, primary cardiomyopathy or valvular heart disease the treatment mostly consisting of medical therapy and in the case of coronary artery disease or valvular diseaes of intervention or surgery.  If the congestive heart failure is caused by disease in the lungs such as asbestosis, or other forms of pulmonary hypertension then the treatment options are very limited but mostly consists of medical therapy.  Prognosis with congestive heart failure is dependent on the cause of the disease process.  Pulmnary HTN due to asbestosis has a poor overal prognosis.  I would recommend seeing a heart failure specialist, a special cardiologist who may help.  There are also devies that in certain cases of systolic dysfuction may help with heart falure symptoms.    

[chrsbll33]

The treatment for congestive heart failure is usually determined by the cause. If the heart failure is caused by a disease, which is the case with your family member, then the disease is treated. His physician is the best person to decide the course of treatment and he’ll do so based on factors such as his age, health, medical history, the extent of his disease, and his tolerance to certain procedures and medications. His expectations and personal opinion will or should also be given importance while deciding on the treatment for heart failure.