Epidemiology and management of right ventricular-predominant heart failure and shock in the cardiac intensive care unit

Abstract

Cardiogenic shock from left ventricular failure is a common presentation in the intensive care unit. In contrast, right ventricular (RV)-predominant heart failure (HF) causing shock is less well recognized. We review the epidemiology and mechanisms of RV-predominant HF and discuss pharmacologic and device-based approaches for the management of this challenging clinical problem.