TCRN Practice Exam 2026 – Complete Prep for Your Test

Hypotension is a symptom that could suggest right ventricular failure in a patient with a blunt cardiac injury. In the context of trauma, especially with blunt force impacting the chest, the heart can sustain injuries that impair its ability to function effectively.

In right ventricular failure specifically, the heart has difficulty pumping blood effectively, leading to a decrease in cardiac output, which can manifest as hypotension. This is because the right ventricle is responsible for pumping deoxygenated blood to the lungs for oxygenation; if it fails, it cannot maintain adequate blood pressure and perfusion to the vital organs.

Furthermore, hypotension in this setting may underline a more systemic response to trauma, emphasizing the need for prompt assessment and management. Other symptoms such as bradycardia, dyspnea, or left-sided pain may be associated with various other conditions or responses in the body but do not specifically and directly indicate right ventricular failure as clearly as hypotension does.