Which of the following is a symptom of left-ventricular failure?

Which of the following is a symptom of left-ventricular failure?

• A. Jugular venous distention
• B. Hepatojugular reflux
• C. Anorexia
• D. Pulmonary edema

Answer: (D)

Left-ventricular failure causes blood to back up into the left atrium and pulmonary veins, raising pressure in the pulmonary circulation. This pulmonary venous congestion leads to fluid leaking into the alveoli, producing pulmonary edema. The result is shortness of breath, crackles on auscultation, orthopnea, and sometimes pink frothy sputum—classic signs of left-sided failure. Jugal venous distention and hepatojugular reflux point to right-sided congestion, not the left-sided problem described here. Anorexia can occur with chronic heart failure but isn’t the hallmark of left-ventricular failure. So the symptom that best reflects left-sided failure is pulmonary edema.

Left-ventricular failure causes blood to back up into the left atrium and pulmonary veins, raising pressure in the pulmonary circulation. This pulmonary venous congestion leads to fluid leaking into the alveoli, producing pulmonary edema. The result is shortness of breath, crackles on auscultation, orthopnea, and sometimes pink frothy sputum—classic signs of left-sided failure. Jugal venous distention and hepatojugular reflux point to right-sided congestion, not the left-sided problem described here. Anorexia can occur with chronic heart failure but isn’t the hallmark of left-ventricular failure. So the symptom that best reflects left-sided failure is pulmonary edema.