Right-sided heart failure is characterized by which of the following?

Right-sided heart failure is characterized by which of the following?

• A. Pulmonary edema
• B. Orthopnea
• C. JVD, hepatomegaly, splenomegaly, ascites, edema
• D. Peripheral edema

Answer: (C)

Right-sided heart failure causes systemic venous congestion. When the right ventricle can’t effectively move blood into the lungs, blood backs up in the venous system, raising pressures behind it. This produces jugular venous distention and congestion in organs like the liver and spleen, leading to hepatomegaly and, often, splenomegaly. Fluid can accumulate in the abdomen (ascites) and edema appears in dependent areas. These signs reflect the body's venous congestion rather than fluid buildup in the lungs, which is seen with left-sided failure (pulmonary edema and orthopnea). So the combination of JVD, hepatomegaly, splenomegaly, ascites, and edema best represents right-sided failure. Peripheral edema can occur, but the broader pattern of systemic venous congestion is more characteristic.

Right-sided heart failure causes systemic venous congestion. When the right ventricle can’t effectively move blood into the lungs, blood backs up in the venous system, raising pressures behind it. This produces jugular venous distention and congestion in organs like the liver and spleen, leading to hepatomegaly and, often, splenomegaly. Fluid can accumulate in the abdomen (ascites) and edema appears in dependent areas. These signs reflect the body's venous congestion rather than fluid buildup in the lungs, which is seen with left-sided failure (pulmonary edema and orthopnea). So the combination of JVD, hepatomegaly, splenomegaly, ascites, and edema best represents right-sided failure. Peripheral edema can occur, but the broader pattern of systemic venous congestion is more characteristic.