[Non-pharmacological therapy of decompensated heart failure: the extracorporeal ultrafiltration].

High-dose diuretic therapy frequently leads to diuretic resistance in patients with decompensated heart failure, through several pathophysiological mechanisms. Ultrafiltration is a non-pharmacological technique that is effective in reducing fluid overload, and nowadays it can be performed out of the hemodialysis unit, because of the availability of simplified tools. The ultrafiltrate production is obtained by an extracorporeal circuit with a filter inside.