right-heart failure, an abnormal cardiac condition characterized by the impairment of the right side of the heart and congestion and elevated pressure in the systemic veins and capillaries. The most common cause of right-heart failure is left-heart failure because both sides of the heart are part of a circuit and what affects one side will eventually affect the other. Right ventricular infarction, pulmonic stenosis, and pulmonary hypertension can also result in right-heart failure. In failure associated with either side of the heart, cardiac output is usually decreased. Also called right-sided failure. Compare left-heart failure. See also heart failure.
