NAIT Primary Care Paramedic (PCP) NOCP Pathophysiology Practice Test

The dysfunction of the right ventricle is primarily responsible for right-sided heart failure. When the right ventricle is impaired, it cannot effectively pump blood into the pulmonary circulation. This leads to increased pressure in the right atrium and systemic venous circulation, causing symptoms like peripheral edema, jugular venous distension, and ascites.

In essence, right-sided heart failure is often a consequence of right ventricular dysfunction due to various factors such as pulmonary hypertension, valvular heart diseases (like tricuspid regurgitation), or left heart failure that causes overload on the right side. In such cases, the right side of the heart fails to maintain adequate blood flow to the lungs, thereby exacerbating the symptoms of heart failure.

While left ventricular dysfunction can lead to right-sided heart failure as a secondary effect, the question specifically addresses the primary cause, which is the failure of the right ventricle itself. This distinction is essential in understanding the pathophysiology behind heart failure presentations.