Right ventricular function in critically ill patients

Abstract

The right ventricular function is crucial for maintaining hemodynamic stability in critically ill patients who suffer from sudden increases of right ventricular pressure overload and/or severely decreased right ventricular contractility. The morphological and functional assessment of the right ventricle is usually performed by bedside echocardiography and hemodynamic measurements with a pulmonary artery catheter. The therapeutic approach to patients with right ventricular failure includes measures to decrease right ventricular afterload and to improve its coronary perfusion and contractility.