Hypertrophy and dilatation, markers of dysfunction

Abstract

Known as "the forgotten ventricle", right ventricle (RV) is presently not anymore regarded as a needless or inactive component of the normal circulation. In addition, the importance of right ventricular function in cardiovascular disease and cardiac surgery has been recognized from several years. RV dysfunction has been shown to be an independent significant prognostic factor in heart failure, congenital heart disease, valvular disease, and cardiac surgery. Nowadays, significant basic science work proved that the RV has an essential function in the pathogenesis and prognosis of numerous cardiovascular diseases including the numerous acquired and congenital cardiac diseases. As a result, there is an increasing research focused on the significance of the individual RV function, in addition to its effect on global heart function through biventricular relationships. The aim of this chapter is to underline that pathologic hypertrophy and dilatation may represent markers of right ventricle dysfunction.