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CARDIOVASCULAR ANESTHESIOLOGY

The Right Ventricle in Cardiac Surgery, a Perioperative Perspective: I. Anatomy, Physiology, and Assessment

François Haddad, MD^*, Pierre Couture, MD^*, Claude Tousignant, MD, and André Y. Denault, MD^*

From the *Department of Anesthesiology, Montreal Heart Institute and Université de Montréal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, California; and Department of Anesthesia, St. Michael’s Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Address correspondence and reprint requests to André Y. Denault, MD, Department of Anesthesiology, Montreal Heart Institute, 5000 Bélanger St., Montreal, Quebec H1T 1C8, Canada. Address e-mail to denault{at}videotron.ca.

Abstract

The importance of right ventricular (RV) function in cardiovascular disease and cardiac surgery has been recognized for several years. RV dysfunction has been shown to be a significant prognostic factor in heart failure, congenital heart disease, valvular disease, and cardiac surgery. In the first of our two articles, we will review key features of RV anatomy, physiology, and assessment. In the first article, the main discussion will be centered on the echographic assessment of RV structure and function. In the second review article, pathophysiology, clinical importance, and management of RV failure in cardiac surgery will be discussed.

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