Cor Pulmonale

 

This is right heart failure that is secondary to lung disease which is caused by pulmonary hypertension due to hypoxia. A diagnosis should be considered in patients with:

• Peripheral oedema

• Raised venous pressure

• Loud pulmonary second heart sound

(all other possible causes of peripheral oedema should be excluded)

 

Treatment involves the use of oxygen therapy, while oedema should be controlled symptomatically using diuretics. Avoid the use of ACE inhibitors, calcium-channel blockers, alpha-blockers and digoxin (unless there’s atrial fibrillation).