The Limits of Right Ventricular Compensation Following Acute Increase in Pulmonary Circulatory Resistance

Abstract

The ability of the right ventricle to compensate as the pulmonary artery is constricted appears to be determined by four major factors: (1) there occurs the well-known increased force of contraction as the right heart becomes distended; (2) the adequacy of the coronary circulation determines to a great extent the Degrees of pulmonary arterial constriction which can occur before failure occurs; (3) the circulatory reflexes apparently aid the compensation to a moderate extent; and (4) the greater the blood volume, the greater is the limit of compensation before right ventricular failure occurs.