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Right-sided heart failure means that the right side of the heart is not pumping blood to the lungs as well as normal.
Most people develop heart failure because of a problem with the left
ventricle. But reduced function of the right ventricle can also occur in
heart failure. As blood begins to back up behind the failing left ventricle and
into the lungs, it will become increasingly difficult for the right ventricle
to pump returning blood through the lungs. Like the left ventricle, the right
ventricle will eventually weaken and begin to fail.
The most common cause of right-sided heart failure is actually
left-sided heart failure (either systolic or diastolic heart failure). While left-sided heart
failure is typically the cause of right-sided heart failure, other conditions,
such as certain lung diseases, can cause the right ventricle to fail even when
there is no problem with your left ventricle.
What is it?
How does it cause right-sided heart failure?
April 26, 2012
Rakesh K. Pai, MD, FACC - Cardiology, Electrophysiology & Stephen Fort, MD, MRCP, FRCPC - Interventional Cardiology
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