Heart Failure (Right-sided)

Right-sided heart failure is a condition where the right side of the heart cannot pump blood effectively. This affects the circulatory system, causing blood to back up in the veins. As a result, fluid can build up in the legs, abdomen, and liver, leading to swelling and discomfort. The heart's inability to move blood forward properly can cause symptoms like fatigue and shortness of breath. This condition often occurs because the right heart is strained by problems in the lungs or left heart. It impacts overall health by reducing oxygen delivery to the body and causing fluid retention.

Right-sided heart failure is defined as the inability of the right ventricle to pump blood efficiently into the pulmonary circulation, leading to systemic venous congestion. It commonly results from left-sided heart failure, pulmonary hypertension, or intrinsic right ventricular disease such as right ventricular infarction. The core pathology involves elevated right ventricular end-diastolic pressure causing increased venous pressure and subsequent peripheral edema, hepatomegaly, and jugular venous distension. This condition is clinically significant because it impairs venous return and systemic circulation, often leading to multi-organ congestion and dysfunction. Diagnosis and management require understanding the underlying cause and the hemodynamic consequences of right ventricular failure.