title: Capability of the right ventricle.
abstract: This article reviews the limitations of the right ventricle in certain clinical settings. There is doubt whether the right ventricle can do systemic work for a lifetime. The right ventricle maintains its output with difficulty after an acute increase in pulmonary vascular resistance. Under certain conditions a reasonable life can be pursued without a right ventricle and systemic blood draining directly into the lungs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery, Montreal Children's Hospital, Quebec.
authors.forename: A R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Dobell
mesh_terms: D002312:Cardiomyopathy, Hypertrophic / Q000503:physiopathology; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000503:physiopathology; D016027:Heart Transplantation; D006352:Heart Ventricles / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D009200:Myocardial Contraction; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000503:physiopathology; D011652:Pulmonary Circulation; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D014188:Transposition of Great Vessels / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D014655:Vascular Resistance