Medicine
/
Cor Pulmonale

Cor Pulmonale

Pathology:                    Rightheart failure due to chronic pulmonary hypertension

 

Aetiology:                     Anycause of pulmonary hypertension.

Pulmonary vascular disease: acute pulmonary embolism, primarypulmonary hypertension, chronic pulmonary embolism, parasitic infection

Lung disease: COPD, asthma, pulmonary fibrosis,bronchiectasis

Chronic hypoventilation: motor neurone disease, myastheniagravis, kyphosis, scoliosis, OSA

 

Symptoms:                  Dyspnoea,fatigue, anorexia, weight loss

 

Signs:                              Peripheraloedema, raised JVP, right ventricular heave, cyanosis, tricuspid regurgitation,hepatomegaly, cyanosis

 

Investigations:         ECG: Right ventricular hypertrophy andright axis deviation, P pulmonale.

Chest X-Ray: Right atrial enlargement, cardiomegaly

FBC: Polycythaemia.

ECHO: Right ventricular dysfunction, tricuspidregurgitation and estimation of right

sided pressures

 

Treatment:                  Treatthe underlying cause, oxygen if hypoxic, diuretics, heart-lung transplantation

 

Complications:          Arrhythmia,liver failure

 

Prognosis:                    Poor,50% 5 year mortality

Join Shiken For FREE

Gumbo Study Buddy

Explore More Subject Explanations

Try Shiken Premium
for Free

14-day free trial. Cancel anytime.
Get Started
The first 14 days are on us
96% of learners report x2 faster learning
Free hands-on onboarding & support
Cancel Anytime