Cardiac effects on certain sides of the heart

Question 1

What happens when the left side of the heart fails?

Answer 1

Blood from lungs to body.
Causes blood to flow backwards to lungs

• Hypertension
• Pulmonary oedema
• Poor tissue perfusion
• Trouble breathing
• Cyanosis (blueness)

Question 2

What happens when the right side of the heart fails?

Answer 2

Blood from body to lungs.
Causes blood to flow backwards into body

• Ankle and leg swelling
• Abdominal and GI swelling
• Enlarged liver and spleen (Hepatosplenomegaly)