What is the term used to describe right heart failure caused by pulmonary issues?

The term that describes right heart failure caused by pulmonary issues is "cor pulmonale." This condition specifically refers to the alteration of the right ventricle resulting from a primary disorder of the respiratory system. When the pulmonary vasculature undergoes increased pressure, often due to chronic lung diseases or obstructive sleep apnea, the right ventricle can become hypertrophied and eventually fail.

In cases of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), pulmonary embolism, or other conditions that lead to elevated pulmonary artery pressure, the right heart must work harder to pump blood through the lungs. If this strain continues over time, it leads to right heart failure or cor pulmonale. This is a critical concept in understanding how pulmonary pathologies can impact heart function.

Other options represent different clinical conditions that do not specifically link right heart failure to pulmonary issues. Cardiac tamponade, for instance, is primarily associated with fluid accumulation in the pericardial sac affecting the heart's ability to pump, while pulmonary hypertension itself is a condition characterized by high blood pressure in the pulmonary arteries but is not synonymous with heart failure. Aortic stenosis refers to a narrowing of the aortic valve, impacting left heart function, rather than the right heart.