Download Print This Information

Right-Sided Heart Failure
Table of Contents
• Topic Overview
• Related Information
• Credits
Topic Overview
Right-sided heart failure means that the right side of the heart is not pumping blood to the
lungs as well as normal.
It is also called cor pulmonale or pulmonary heart disease.
What happens to the heart?
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 harder for the
right ventricle to pump returning blood through the lungs. Like the left ventricle, the right
ventricle will weaken with time and start to fail.
What causes it?
The most common cause of right-sided heart failure is actually left-sided heart failure. But
other conditions, such as certain lung diseases, can cause the right ventricle to fail even
when there is no problem with your left ventricle.
Causes of right-sided heart failure
Cause
What is it?
How does it cause right-sided heart
failure?
Left-sided
heart failure
The left ventricle does not
pump blood efficiently. This
leads to pressure buildup
behind the left side of the
heart that, over time, causes
the right side of the heart to
fail.
Blood backs up behind the left
ventricle into the left atrium, in the
lungs, and then eventually into the
right ventricle, which also eventually
fails. This allows blood to then back
up farther into the extremities, the
liver, and the other organs.
Chronic
lung
disease
It includes emphysema,
pulmonary embolism, and
High blood pressure in the pulmonary
arteries increases the workload of the
other causes of pulmonary
hypertension.
right ventricle. Over time, this causes
the right ventricle to fail.
Coronary
artery
disease
This is blockage of the
arteries that supply blood to
your heart.
CAD can cause left-sided heart failure
leading to right-sided heart failure. Or
it can directly cause right-sided heart
failure by blocking blood supply to the
right ventricle.
Pulmonic
stenosis
This is narrowing of the
pulmonic valve that limits
blood flow out of the right
ventricle.
It increases the work of the right
ventricle, similar to chronic lung
disease.
Tricuspid
stenosis
This is narrowing of the
tricuspid valve.
It limits blood flow out of the right
atrium, causing enlargement of the
right atrium and backup of blood
flowing to it.
Tricuspid
The tricuspid valve doesn't
regurgitation close properly. This causes
blood in the right ventricle to
flow back into the right
atrium.
It causes volume overload of the right
ventricle. Over time, this causes right
ventricular dilatation and failure.
Pericardial
constriction
The pericardium is a
membrane sac around the
heart. Repeated or ongoing
inflammation of it causes
stiffening and thickening and
prevents the heart from
expanding normally to pump.
A thickened pericardium restricts the
heart's ability to pump effectively.
Left-to-right
shunt
This is an abnormal
connection between the left
and right side of the heart. It
is usually present from birth.
It causes a volume overload of the
right ventricle, similar to tricuspid
regurgitation.
Related Information
• Heart Failure
Credits
By Healthwise Staff
Primary Medical Reviewer Rakesh K. Pai, MD, FACC - Cardiology, Electrophysiology
E. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine
Specialist Medical Reviewer Stephen Fort, MD, MRCP, FRCPC - Interventional Cardiology
Current as of April 3, 2017
Note: The "printer friendly" document will not contain all the information available in the online document.
Some information (e.g. cross-references to other topics, definitions or medical illustrations) is only available
in the online version.
This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise,
Incorporated, disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information.
© 1995-2017 Healthwise, Incorporated. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health
decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated.