A patient presents with peripheral edema, hepatosplenomegaly, and jugular vein distention. What do these signs and symptoms represent?

Backward effects of right ventricular failure
Forward effects of right ventricular failure
Forward effects of left ventricular failure
Backward effects of left ventricular failure

1 answer

The signs and symptoms presented—peripheral edema, hepatosplenomegaly, and jugular vein distention—are indicative of backward effects of right ventricular failure.

In right heart failure, the right ventricle is unable to effectively pump blood into the pulmonary circulation, leading to an increase in central venous pressure. This results in blood backing up in the systemic venous system, causing symptoms like peripheral edema (due to fluid accumulation), hepatosplenomegaly (enlargement of the liver and spleen due to congestion), and jugular vein distention (due to increased pressure in the venous system). Thus, these findings are characteristic signs of right ventricular failure.