THE IMPORTANCE AND PROGNOSTIC VALUE BEFOR E TRANSPLANTATION OF RIGHT-VENTRICULAR FAILURE IN TERMINAL CARDIAC-FAILURE

Right ventricular failure occurs as a late complication of cardiomyopa thy; the observation of biventricular failure usually reduces survival to less than 2 years. Right ventricular dysfunction is related mainly to the important increase of the afterload and also to parietal ischa emia in ischaemic heart disease or direct dysfunction of the contracti lity in pure myocardial diseases, giving rise to the dilated cardiomyo pathies. The prognostic value of the right ventricular ejection fracti on has been demonstrated in all forms of cardiomyopathy leading up to cardiac transplantation. Right ventricular function must therefore be taken into account in pretransplantation investigations.