Left-Sided vs Right-Sided Heart Failure

A patient in heart failure may present with different symptoms and require different interventions. One of the main considerations is whether the patient’s heart failure is left-sided or right-sided. The left and right side of the heart have separate functions, and here, we will review the differences between the two sides of the heart and how the heart failure on each side may present.

Interestingly, right-sided heart failure is usually caused by left-sided heart failure, so as a nurse, you should constantly be on the lookout for any and all symptoms of heart failure. Treatment for both left-sided and right-sided heart failure is dependent on the symptoms presented as there is no true cure for heart failure. Most treatments will attempt to reduce the stress on your heart muscles, which may involve diet and exercise changes or the addition of medications.

The following chart summarizes what you need to know:

Left-Sided Heart Failure	Right-Sided Heart Failure
The left ventricle receives blood from the lungs and pumps this oxygenated blood out of your heart to your body. When the left side fails, your heart cannot pump enough oxygenated blood to your body, and this can cause blood to back up in the lungs.	The right ventricle pumps deoxygenated blood from your body to your lungs. When the right side fails, it usually cannot adequately fill with and pump enough deoxygenated blood to the lungs, causing a backup of deoxygenated blood in your veins.
Symptoms: shortness of breath, accumulation of fluid in the lungs (pulmonary edema), decreased cardiac output	Symptoms: excess fluids in the tissues; swelling in legs, ankles, and belly; liver congestion or failure.