Heart failure caused by congenital left-sided lesions.

There are diverse mechanisms by which congenital left-sided cardiac lesions can precipitate heart failure. Left heart outflow obstruction can impose abnormal pressure load on the left ventricle, inducing adverse remodeling, hypertrophy, and diastolic and systolic dysfunction. Abnormalities in left ventricular inflow can increase pulmonary venous pressure and predisposing to pulmonary edema. In addition, inborn abnormalities in left ventricular myocardial structure and function can impair both systolic and diastolic function and manifest as heart failure later in life. In this article, the different mechanisms, outcomes, and treatments of heart failure in patients with congenital left-sided lesions are discussed.