Cor Pulmonale Flashcards
What is Cor Pulmonale?
Right sided HF due to respiratory disease causing increased pressure and resistance in pulmonary arteries
Pulmonary hypertension leads to increased afterload for RV to pump against and leads to back pressure of blood into atria, VC and systemic circ
What are the possible causes of cor pulmonale?
COPD PE Interstial lung disease CF Primary pulmonary hypertension
How might someone with cor pulmonale present?
SOB (unlikely to be significant indicate because respiratory diseases causing cor pulmonale also give rise to SOB)
Peripheral oedema
Syncope
Chest pain
Raised JVP
Hepatomegaly= due to back pressure into the portal system
Parasternal heave= right ventricular hypertrophy
-due to RV being anatomically most anterior and therefore closest to the chest wall
You examine a patient suspected to have cor pulmonale. What signs might they have?
Cyanosis= due to compromised pulmonary circulation causing possible V/Q mismatch and decreased function of heart to deliver oxygen to tissue
Raised JVP= back log of blood in jugular veins
Peripheral oedema= back flow of pressure to systemic circulation and decreased ability for IVC to drain= pooling of blood in periphery with increase pressure
Third heart sound= associate with ventricular dysfunction
Murmurs= tricuspid regurg
Hepatomegaly due to back pressure to hepatic vein
How is cor pulmonale managed?
Treat underlying resp cause
Oxygen therapy
