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Vasodilator challenge during right heart catheterization (RHC), by improving right ventricular (RV) loading conditions, could provide an assessment of RV functional reserve. We hypothesized that a dynamic evaluation of RV function with sodium nitroprusside (NTP) infusion could enhance conventional risk stratification for post-left ventricular assist device (LVAD) early RV failure (RVF). We performed an observational retrospective multicenter study including consecutive LVAD recipients undergoing vasodilator challenge within 3 months from surgery. We evaluated the association of clinical, echocardiographic, and hemodynamic data at baseline and after NTP infusion with post-LVAD early RVF. Of 160 patients, RVF occurred in 58 (36.3%) and was associated with higher in-hospital mortality (32.8% vs. 3.9%, p < 0.001). Among baseline hemodynamics, pulmonary artery pulsatility index (PAPi) <2 was the single variable associated with RVF (p = 0.038). In a multivariable model adjusted for in-study outcome predictors, a blunted PAPi response to vasodilator challenge (PAPi increase <2.2) emerged as the strongest independent RVF predictor (odds ratio [OR] = 4.56, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.88-11.07, p = 0.001). Patients with a blunted PAPi response had an increased RVF risk both in the baseline PAPi <2 (61.9% vs. 12.5%, p = 0.022) and in the baseline PAPi ≥2 (40.2% vs. 17.5%, p = 0.004) groups. Vasodilator challenge, by unveiling RV functional reserve, could improve patient selection and optimization before LVAD implant.