Bejjani Antoine, Khairani Candrika D, Piazza Gregory
Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.
Semin Thromb Hemost. 2023 Nov;49(8):797-808. doi: 10.1055/s-0042-1750025. Epub 2022 Jul 1.
Right ventricular (RV) failure is a critical cause of morbidity and mortality in patients presenting with pulmonary embolism (PE). The presentation of RV failure is based on the combination of clinical findings, laboratory abnormalities, and imaging evidence. An improved understanding of the pathophysiology of RV dysfunction following PE has given rise to more accurate risk stratification and broader therapeutic approaches. A subset of patients with PE develop chronic RV dysfunction with or without pulmonary hypertension. In this review, we focus on the impact of PE on the RV and its implications for risk stratification, prognosis, acute management, and long-term therapy.