Anesthesia Knowledge Test-6 (AKT-6) Practice Exam 2026 - Free Anesthesia Practice Questions and Study Guide

High pulmonary vascular resistance leads to increased pressure in the pulmonary circulation, which directly affects the heart's right ventricle. The right ventricle has to work harder to pump blood through the lungs, leading to right ventricular hypertrophy and, ultimately, right heart failure, a condition known as cor pulmonale. This occurs because the structural and functional adaptation of the right ventricle to the increased workload becomes insufficient, resulting in heart failure due to chronic pulmonary hypertension.

In contrast, other consequences such as improved ventilation, decreased CO2 retention, or increased oxygenation do not accurately reflect the physiological outcomes associated with high pulmonary vascular resistance. In fact, high resistance can lead to impaired oxygenation and retention of CO2, which would exacerbate respiratory issues rather than improve them. Thus, the physiological link between high pulmonary vascular resistance and the development of cor pulmonale is the strongest and most relevant consequence in this context.