congestive heart failure (MONDO_0005009) is failure of the heart to pump a sufficient amount of blood to meet the needs of the body tissues, resulting in tissue congestion and edema. Signs and symptoms include shortness of breath, pitting edema, enlarged tender liver, engorged neck veins, and pulmonary rales. Also known as: CHF, cardiac failure, congestive, congestive heart disease, failure, congestive heart, heart failure, congestive, weak heart.