[Treatment of acute and chronic right ventricular failure]

Acute or chronic right ventricular failure is an often misdiagnosed cause of cardiopulmonary insufficiency. In addition to clinical symptoms or laboratory testing, echocardiography and invasive hemodynamic measurement by means of right-heart catheterization are essential for diagnosis and treatment control. In case of acute right ventricular failure, adequate symptomatic treatment of the life-threatening situation is important. Main issues are maintenance of coronary artery perfusion pressure and myocardial oxygen delivery as well as reduction of right ventricular afterload. In persistent right ventricular failure extracorporeal or intracorporeal assist devices are increasingly used as bridging or destination therapy. On a long-term basis, the targeted therapy of the underlying disease is crucial.