A 68-year‑old woman with end‑stage heart failure has been on optimal guideline‑directed medical therapy for 10 years. She is now NYHA IV with EF 10%.

Question

A 68-year‑old woman with end‑stage heart failure has been on optimal guideline‑directed medical therapy for 10 years. She is now NYHA IV with EF 10%. She asks about palliative inotrope infusions. What does current evidence support regarding palliative milrinone or dobutamine?

Accepted Answer

Palliative inotrope infusions can improve symptoms (breathlessness, fatigue) and facilitate home‑based care, but do not extend survival and carry risks such as arrhythmias or sudden death; they should be considered as part of a symptom‑focused palliative approach

Answer

Inotropes can only be administered in the intensive care unit

Answer

Palliative inotropes cure heart failure

Answer

Palliative inotropes are the standard of care for all NYHA IV patients

Answer

Palliative inotropes extend survival by 5 or more years

Palliative Inotrope Infusions — SCE Palliative Medicine MCQ

A 68-year‑old woman with end‑stage heart failure has been on optimal guideline‑directed medical therapy for 10 years. She is now NYHA IV with EF 10%. She asks about palliative inotrope infusions. What does current evidence support regarding palliative milrinone or dobutamine?

A 68-year‑old woman with end‑stage heart failure has been on optimal guideline‑directed medical therapy for 10 years. She is now NYHA IV with EF 10%. She asks about palliative inotrope infusions. What does current evidence support regarding palliative milrinone or dobutamine?