OBJECTIVE Acute pulmonary hypertension may cause right ventricular (RV) contractile failure. While it has been assumed that restoration of normal loading conditions after acute pulmonary hypertension is sufficient for complete recovery of RV function, this has not been rigorously examined. The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that acute RV pressure overload produces RV contracti...

The values of several non-invasive methods for the diagnosis of right ventricular necrosis in inferior myocardial infarction were compared in 51 consecutive patients who underwent serial radionuclide ventriculography, pyrophosphate scintigraphy, and cross sectional echocardiography. In addition a unipolar electrocardiographic lead V4R was recorded on admission, daily, and during episodes of fur...

OBJECTIVE To determine the prevalence of right and left ventricular dysfunction in a prescreened population of patients with severe pulmonary disease, and to analyze the relationship between right and left ventricular function. DESIGN Retrospective record review of 434 patients with severe pulmonary disease. PATIENTS Patients with end-stage pulmonary disease, including alpha1-antitrypsin de...