Tissue Congestion

Each year millions of patients are hospitalized with worsening heart failure symptoms.⁸ Patients with ADHF experience difficulty breathing, fatigue, and edema (swelling) caused by a buildup of excess fluid. This buildup of excess fluid, also called tissue congestion, contributes to organ dysfunction and poor outcomes.⁹

Nurse giving assistance to senior patient with disease in bed

Persistent Congestion at discharge leads to Poor Outcomes^10-15

One-half of ADHF patients are readmitted to the hospital in six months.

Diuretics Target Vascular Space, but Most Excess Fluid Located in Tissue and Organs

Lymphatic System, primarily via Thoracic Duct, Drains Fluid

**Elevated venous pressure drives fluid into the Tissue and Impairs Lymph drainage. This imbalance causes congestion.**

Lymphatic vessels throughout the body drain and filter 8 liters of fluid per day out of interstitial tissues. Lymph flows through the Thoracic Duct where it refills the vascular system, which is important for kidney function during diuretic therapy. Lymph flow is also essential for clearing inflammatory mediators. Balance is disrupted in ADHF, as more fluid enters the tissue than the lymphatics can remove. Without normal lymph drainage, organs can become congested, impacting organ function.^16-21

It has been demonstrated in heart failure patients that reducing thoracic duct outflow pressure to mobilize lymph flow can remove significant fluid from the tissues.^{22, 23}