Postcardiotomy right ventricular failure

A rare cardiac condition characterized by acute severe right ventricular failure with subsequent hemodynamic instability following a cardiac surgical procedure. Predisposing factors include suboptimal myocardial protection during surgery, long cardiopulmonary bypass time, right ventricular myocardial ischemia or infarction, atrial arrhythmias, reperfusion lung injury with secondary pulmonary hypertension, post-operative pulmonary micro- or macro-embolism, and pre-existing pulmonary vascular disease, among others.