Right Heart Failure: A Hemodynamic Review

For many years, the importance of the right heart was neglected, and the right ventricle was viewed as merely a conduit for transmitting blood to the lungs. However, the realization that right ventricular function is a key determinant of prognosis in left heart failure, pulmonary hypertension, and after implantation of left ventricular assist devices renewed interest in accurate quantification of right ventricular function. This article reviews traditional and gold-standard hemodynamic assessments of the right ventricle in health and disease.