Right Ventricular Dysfunction before and after Cardiac Surgery: Prognostic Implications

Right ventricular dysfunction is a prognostic factor for morbidity and mortality across a broad spectrum of cardiovascular diseases. While the role of the right ventricle in surgical patients has emerged, the prognostic impact of right ventricular dysfunction remains unclear in a large cardiac surgery population. We reviewed the existing literature about the role of right ventricular dysfunction in adults undergoing different kinds of cardiac surgery either present before or developed after surgery itself. Pre- and post-operative right ventricular dysfunction has demonstrated substantial prognostic implications. However, there remains a lack of consensus regarding its definition and diagnostic criteria. The available literature is limited to small-sized studies, underscoring the need for studies with larger populations.