Lack of right ventricular remodelling after surgical ventricular restoration

Background Right ventricular (RV) dysfunction is an important predictor of long-term outcome in heart failure patients undergoing surgical ventricular restoration (SVR). RV assessment is therefore a pivotal step in the selection of patient candidates for SVR and during follow up. While the impact of SVR on left ventricle (LV) is currently described in terms of both functional and morphological parameters, RV changes are usually considered only from a functional point of view because of the complex chamber shape. We aim to combine a morphological parameter, RV remodeling index (RV mass/volume ratio), with functional evaluation in order to describe and understand RV adaptation after SVR and the resulting impact on clinical outcome.