Pulmonary hypertension and the interdependence of ventricular function part 1: Pathophysiology and diagnosis

Pulmonary hypertension is a hemodynamic problem that can result in grave morbidity and mortality, including right-sided heart failure and sudden death. The nature of the pulmonary circulation makes it highly interdependent with right ventricular function. Thus, the study of functional deterioration in pulmonary blood fl ow should always take into account the impact on right ventricular function, and vice versa. In this article, a comprehensive discussion of the pathophysiology, monitoring, and diagnosis is provided for the complicated disorder of pulmonary hypertension.