Decreased pulmonary artery compliance in acute pulmonary hypertension shifts the right ventricle from a flow pump to a pressure pump, reducing stroke volume.
Under control conditions, the right ventricle operates at maximum efficiency and submaximal work output. Compliance of the pulmonary artery is a significant factor in decoupling the right ventricle from its vascular load. As the compliance decreases with acute pulmonary hypertension, the maximum stroke work against load point shifted in such a manner that the right ventricle changed its operational status from a flow to a pressure pump, resulting in a decreased stroke volume.
Fourie et al. (Tue,) studied this question.