Reading Time:
Pathology
Right heart failure due to chronic pulmonary hypertension
Aetiology
Any cause of pulmonary hypertension.
Pulmonary vascular disease: acute pulmonary embolism, primary pulmonary hypertension, chronic pulmonary embolism, parasitic infection
Lung disease: COPD, asthma, pulmonary fibrosis, bronchiectasis
Chronic hypoventilation: motor neurone disease, myasthenia gravis, kyphosis, scoliosis, OSA
Signs
Peripheral oedema, raised JVP, right ventricular heave, cyanosis, tricuspid regurgitation, hepatomegaly, cyanosis
Symptoms
Dyspnoea, fatigue, anorexia, weight loss.
Investigations
ECG: Right ventricular hypertrophy and right axis deviation, P pulmonale.
Chest X-Ray: Right atrial enlargement, cardiomegaly
FBC: Polycythaemia.
ECHO: Right ventricular dysfunction, tricuspid regurgitation and estimation of right
sided pressures
Treatment
Treat the underlying cause, oxygen if hypoxic, diuretics, heart-lung transplantation
Prognosis
Poor, 50% 5 year mortality
Arrhythmia, liver failure
Key Facts
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, sapien platea morbi dolor lacus nunc, nunc ullamcorper. Felis aliquet egestas vitae, nibh ante quis quis dolor sed mauris.
Key Images
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, sapien platea morbi dolor lacus nunc, nunc ullamcorper. Felis aliquet egestas vitae, nibh ante quis quis dolor sed mauris.
Key References
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, sapien platea morbi dolor lacus nunc, nunc ullamcorper. Felis aliquet egestas vitae, nibh ante quis quis dolor sed mauris.