title: Right ventricular failure in patients with left ventricular assist devices.
abstract: Right ventricular (RV) failure that develops following LVAD placement is an important and challenging complication that occurs in approximately 15-25% of LVAD patients. Thus, a thorough evaluation that identifies pre-operative clinical predictors of RV failure is crucial to aid in the appropriate treatment and prognostication. Following LVAD implant, three major physiologic changes invariably occur that will influence RV function: an increase in RV preload, a decrease in RV afterload, and an alteration in RV contractility. Management strategies exist to minimize the likelihood and severity of RV failure post-LVAD. Further studies are needed that also focus on intermediate and late post-LVAD RV failure.
authors.affiliation: Section of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, University of Chicago Medical Center, 5841 South Maryland Avenue, Chicago, IL 60637, USA. jrich@bsd.uchicago.edu
authors.forename: Jonathan D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Rich
mesh_terms: D002302:Cardiac Output / Q000502:physiology; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000209:etiology*; D006353:Heart-Assist Devices / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D007430:Intraoperative Care / Q000379:methods; D009200:Myocardial Contraction; D011182:Postoperative Care / Q000379:methods; D018487:Ventricular Dysfunction, Left / Q000628:therapy*; D018497:Ventricular Dysfunction, Right / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy