What are the signs and symptoms of right-sided heart failure?

Right-sided heart failure causes fluid to back up into the systemic venous circulation, producing peripheral symptoms. Key signs include dependent peripheral edema starting in the ankles and feet, weight gain from fluid retention, jugular venous distention or distended neck veins, hepatomegaly which is an enlarged congested liver, ascites which is fluid accumulation in the abdomen, and elevated central venous pressure. Right-sided failure often results from chronic left-sided failure.