Understanding Preload and Afterload in Cardiac Output

Right-Sided Heart Failure 🚑⤵️ ⚠️ So the right ventricle is failing, blood can’t get out of the right side of the heart effectively. Think of a traffic jam of blood backing up into the systemic circulation. 👉🏻 The jugular veins that normally bring blood back to the heart become engorged (JVD) 👉🏻 An increase in hydrostatic pressure forces fluid out of the capillaries & into the tissues (peripheral edema). 👉🏻 The spleen & liver fill up (splenomegaly & hepatomegaly) & abdominal pain can occur