Treatment of right ventricular dysfunction in pulmonary arterial hypertension: Theoretical considerations

SummarySignificant progress has been made in the medical therapy of pulmonary hypertension in recent years, but long term results are still disappointing. We describe the theoretical underpinnings of a surgical procedure which we suggest might prevent or delay the occurrence of right ventricular failure and thereby improve long-term survival in pulmonary arterial hypertension. This is a hypothesis which could be tested in an animal model of this condition.