Outcomes after implementing a heart failure diuretic pathway in an emergency department setting.

Background: Among patients with acute decompensated heart failure (HF), national and international loop diuretic therapy recommendations may not be followed in the emergency department (ED).

Objectives: To examine if loop diuretic treatment and patient disposition from the ED differed after implementing a clinical pathway based on national HF guidelines.

Methods: Using an observational, pre- and post-intervention design, after clinical pathway implementation, loop diuretic medications and clinical outcomes were retrieved from medical records.