Certified Medical-Surgical Registered Nurse Practice Exam

Which condition is associated with the development of right-sided heart failure?

1. A ventricular septal defect

2. An anterior MI

3. An atrial septal defect

4. Constrictive pericarditis

The correct answer is: An atrial septal defect

The correct choice reflecting a condition associated with the development of right-sided heart failure is constrictive pericarditis. This condition occurs when the pericardium, the fibrous sac surrounding the heart, becomes thickened and fibrotic. As a result, it restricts the filling of the heart, particularly affecting the right atrium and ventricle due to their lower pressure dynamics compared to the left side of the heart. In constrictive pericarditis, the impaired diastolic filling leads to increased pressure in the right atrium and subsequently in the right ventricle, ultimately resulting in symptoms of right-sided heart failure. These symptoms include peripheral edema, jugular venous distension, and ascites, as the heart struggles to effectively pump blood returning from the body. The other conditions listed, such as a ventricular septal defect and an anterior myocardial infarction, typically have a more prominent impact on the left side of the heart or can lead to overall heart failure, but they do not specifically lead to isolated right-sided heart failure as clearly as constrictive pericarditis does. An atrial septal defect can cause volume overload of the right side due to increased blood flow, but it does not usually lead to failure