What does right heart failure cause?

Right heart failure primarily causes fluid to back up into the body because the right side of the heart is responsible for pumping deoxygenated blood to the lungs for oxygenation. When the right heart fails, it cannot effectively move blood forward into the pulmonary arteries. This leads to increased pressure in the venous system, causing fluid to accumulate in various parts of the body, particularly in the extremities and the abdominal cavity, resulting in peripheral edema and possibly ascites.

This phenomenon distinguishes right heart failure from left heart failure, which would involve backing up into the lungs and the pulmonary circulation. Over time, the increased pressure from the right heart's inability to pump effectively can also contribute to other complications, including decreased renal perfusion due to insufficient blood flow to the kidneys and potential pulmonary hypertension as the body attempts to compensate by increasing blood flow to the lungs.

Understanding right heart failure's effects on the body helps in recognizing the clinical signs and symptoms and managing the condition appropriately.