Pulmonary Hypertension Flashcards
What is pulmonary hypertension?
Increased resistance and pressure of blood in the pulmonary arteries
What is there an increase of with pulmonary hypertension?
There is an increase in mean pulmonary arterial pressure (normally around 15mmHg)
What can an increase in pulmonary arterial pressure result in?
Strain on the right side of the heart
How does increased pulmonary arterial pressure result in right heart strain?
Heart trying to pump blood through the lungs
What effect can increased pulmonary arterial pressure have on the venous system?
Can cause a back pressure of blood into the systemic venous system
What is the main presenting symptom of pulmonary hypertension?
Shortness of breath
What are other possible presenting symptoms of pulmonary hypertension?
Syncope
Tachycardia
Raised JVP
Peripheral oedema
What investigations would you carry out in someone with increased pulmonary arterial pressure?
ECG (MAIN)
Echocardiogram
Chest x-ray
Right heart catheterisation
What ECG changes would you see in someone presenting with pulmonary hypertension?
Right ventricular hypertrophy
Right axis deviation
Right bundle branch block
What changes might you see on a chest x-ray of someone with pulmonary hypertension?
Dilated pulmonary arteries
Right ventricular hypertrophy
What would right heart catheterisation show in someone with pulmonary hypertension?
Mean pulmonary artery pressure >25mmHg
What can the causes of pulmonary hypertension be divided into?
5 groups
What is group 1 pulmonary hypertension?
Primary pulmonary hypertension or
Connective tissue disease- SLE
What is group 2 pulmonary hypertension?
Left heart failure usually due to myocardial infarction or systemic hypertension
What is group 3 pulmonary hypertension?
Chronic lung disease- COPD