Perspective Chapter: Right Ventricular Free Wall – The Forgotten Territory for Revascularization

Abstract

Revascularization of the right ventricle free wall is not routinely addressed during coronary bypass surgery, yet the clinical impact is not well studied. Addressing right ventricular free wall ischemia is feasible via bypassing branches of the right coronary artery. In this article, we aim to examine the hypothesis that ignoring the right ventricular free wall ischemia during coronary artery bypass surgery could have an early, and possibly late, clinical impact, such as right ventricular dysfunction and functional tricuspid regurgitation, in patients with extended right coronary artery disease without adequate collateralization from the left coronary system. We present the current available evidence that is relevant to that hypothesis.