What results from right-sided heart failure?

Right-sided heart failure primarily leads to a backup of blood in the systemic circulation. When the right side of the heart fails to pump blood efficiently into the lungs, blood begins to accumulate in the veins that return blood from the body, leading to congestion in various organs. This can result in symptoms such as swelling in the legs, abdomen (ascites), and liver congestion, all indicative of the impaired ability of the heart to manage the return of blood from the body.

The other choices are related to left-sided heart failure or other conditions but do not accurately describe the primary effects of right-sided heart failure. For instance, increased pulmonary capillaries and pulmonary edema are symptoms associated with left-sided heart failure due to fluid backing up into the lungs. Increased cardiac output typically reflects effective heart function or compensatory mechanisms, which are not present in right-sided heart failure.