Short Communication
Future Challenges in Acute Right Heart Failure
Markus W. FerrariPhysiologically, with every stroke right and left ventricle ejects the same blood volume. However, due to low resistance of the pulmonary circulation the stroke work is about 75% lower than on the left side resulting in a thinner right ventricular wall. Therefore, the right ventricle shows more compliance and less resistance to an abrupt increase in after load. Acute Right Heart Failure (ARHF) is a clinically complex situation occurring in 10 to 20% of all acute heart failure patients mostly due to right coronary occlusion or secondary pulmonary hypertension [1,2]. It is characterized by an inability of the right ventricle to generate enough cardiac output, thereby resulting in a volume deficit of the left ventricle. In addition, ARHF