RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Intravenous diuretic day-care treatment for patients with heart failure JF Clinical Medicine JO Clin Med FD Royal College of Physicians SP 133 OP 136 DO 10.7861/clinmedicine.12-2-133 VO 12 IS 2 A1 P Banerjee A1 G Tanner A1 L Williams YR 2012 UL http://www.rcpjournals.org/content/12/2/133.abstract AB Fluid overload is a common manifestation of decompensated chronic heart failure. This paper reports on a pilot study that investigated whether intravenous (iv) furosemide administered on a cardiology day ward for three successive days was effective in improving the symptoms of patients with fluid overload and chronic heart failure. The results showed that 94.1% of patients reported an improvement in their breathlessness, with a marked weight loss in 88.2% of patients. There were no marked changes in blood pressure or renal function. Hospital admission was avoided in 94.1% of cases. The study concluded that iv diuretic treatment given in a hospital day-care setting is safe and effective, and that it reduces the need for hospital admissions. As a consequence, this reduces the associated financial costs of hospitalisation.