The cardiac response to a rapid volume infusion was studied in 18 patients with septic shock accompanied by pulmonary hypertension. Right and left ventricular ejection fractions were measured, and right and left ventricular volume indices were calculated from ejection fractions and stroke volumes before and 30 minutes after the start of the infusion. Responders (13 patients) showed an increase in stroke volume index (SVI) as a result of a mean 30% increase in right ventricular end-diastolic volume index (RVEDVI) and a mean 17% increase in left ventricular end-diastolic volume index (LVEDVI) during volume loading. In the nonresponders (five patients) fluid loading resulted in a decreased or unchanged SVI; this was accompanied by a 7% increase in RVEDVI but no change in LVEDVI, although both the central venous pressure and pulmonary capillary wedge pressure increased. At baseline, nonresponders differed from responders as evidenced by a high central venous pressure and RVEDVI but a lower mean arterial pressure: thus, right ventricular coronary perfusion pressure was lower and right ventricular wall stress may have been higher. Mean pulmonary artery pressure did not differ between the groups. Our data suggest that in some patients with septic shock volume loading does not result in increased forward flow because of right ventricular failure associated with pulmonary hypertension and coronary hypotension.