Long considered an insignificant chamber, the right ventricle has been recently under spotlight, especially with emerging data supporting its critical role in disease progression. The right ventricle is a triangular heart chamber with complex physiology and pathophysiology. In this review, we discuss the normal physiology of the right ventricle, right ventricular failure, and recent advances in treatment with emphasis on optimal timing for transplantation referral.
Keywords: Right ventricle; heart failure; heart transplantation; lung transplantation; mechanical circulatory support; pulmonary hypertension; right ventricular failure.
2019 Journal of Thoracic Disease. All rights reserved.