Ventricular interdependence: How does it impact on hemodynamic evaluation in clinical practice?

Abstract

The left (LV) and right ventricles (RV) are enclosed in a stiff envelope, the pericardium. They have similar enddiastolic volumes, and there is no free space for acute ventricular dilatation within a normal pericardial space. Thus, when RV end-diastolic volume increases owing to increased RV loading, it can only occur at the expense of the space devoted to the left ventricle, which is prevented from dilating to as large an end-diastolic volume as it would otherwise given its distending pressure.