Cor Pulmonale

Cor Pulmonale. DefinitionCausesSymptomsExams and TestsTreatmentOutlookPossible ComplicationsCor pulmonale is a condition that causes the right side of the heart to fail Longterm high blood pressure in the arteries of the lung and right ventricle of the heart can lead to cor pulmonale High blood pressure in the arteries of the lungs is called pulmonary hypertension It is the most common cause of cor pulmonale In people who have pulmonary hypertension changes in the small blood vessels inside the lungs can lead to increased blood pressure in the right side of the heart This makes it harder for the heart to pump blood to the lungs If this high pressure continues it puts a strain on the right side of the heart That strain can cause cor pulmonale Lung conditions that cause a low blood oxygen level in the blood over a long time can also lead to cor pulmonale Some of these are 1 Autoimmune diseases that damage the lungs such as scleroderma 2 Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) 3 Chronic blood clots in the lungs 4 Cystic fibrosis (CF) 5 Severe bronchiectasis 6 Scarring of the lung tissue (interstitial lung disease) 7 Severe curving of the upper part of the spine (kyphoscoliosis) 8 Obstructive sleep apnea which causes stops in breathing becau Shortness of breath or lightheadedness during activity is often the first symptom of cor pulmonale You may also have a fast heartbeat and feel like your heart is pounding Over time symptoms occur with lighter activity or even while you are at rest Symptoms you may have are 1 Fainting spells during activity 2 Chest discomfort usually in the front of the chest 3 Chest pain 4 Swelling of the feet or ankles 5 Symptoms of lung disorders such as wheezing or coughing or phlegm production 6 Bluish lips and fingers (cyanosis) Your health care provider will perform a physical exam and ask about your symptoms The exam may find 1 Fluid buildup in your belly 2 Abnormal heart sounds 3 Bluish skin 4 Liver swelling 5 Swelling of the neck veins which is a sign of high pressure in the right side of the heart 6 Ankle swelling These tests may help diagnose cor pulmonale as well as its cause 1 Blood antibody tests 2 Blood test to check for a substance called brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) 3 Chest xray 4 CT scan of the chest with or without an injection of a contrast fluid (dye) 5 Echocardiogram 6 ECG 7 Lung biopsy (rarely done) 8 Measurement of blood oxygen by checking arterial blood gas (ABG) 9 Pulmonary (lung) function tests 10 Right heart catheterization 11 Ventilation and perfusion scan of the lungs (V/Q scan) 12 Tests for autoimmune lung disease The goal of treatment is to control symptoms It is important to treat medical problems that cause pulmonary hypertension because they can lead to cor pulmonale Many treatment options are available In general the cause of your cor pulmonale will determine which treatment you receive If your provider prescribes medicines you may take them by mouth (oral) receive them through a vein (intravenous or IV) or breathe them in (inhaled) You will be closely monitored during treatment to watch for side effects and to see how well the medicine works for you Never stop taking your medicines without first talking to your provider Other treatments may include 1 Blood thinners to reduce the risk of blood clots 2 Medicines to manage heart failure symptoms 3 Oxygen therapy at home 4 A lung or heartlung transplant if medicine does not work Important tips to follow 1 Avoid strenuous activities and heavy lifting 2 Avoid traveling to high altitudes 3 Get a yearly flu vaccine as How well you do depends on the cause of your cor pulmonale As your illness gets worse you will need to make changes to your home so that you can manage as well as possible You will also need help around your house Cor pulmonale may lead to 1 Lifethreatening shortness of breath 2 Severe fluid buildup in your body 3 Shock 4 Death.

Cor pulmonale results from a disorder of the lung or its vasculature it does not refer to right ventricular (RV) enlargement secondary to left ventricular (LV) failure a congenital heart disorder (eg ventricular septal defect) or an acquired valvular disorder Cor pulmonale is usually chronic but may be acute and reversible.

Cor Pulmonale: Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis, and Treatment

Cor pulmonale is a Latin word that means “pulmonary heart” its definition varies and presently there is no consensual definition Cor pulmonale can be defined as an alteration in the structure (eg hypertrophy or dilatation) and function of the right ventricle (RV) of the heart caused by a primary disorder of the respiratory system resulting in pulmonary hypertension.

Cor Pulmonale StatPearls NCBI Bookshelf

CausesSymptomsDiagnosisTreatmentThis type of rightsided heart disease can develop slowly or suddenly and it is always caused by lung disease COPD is the most common cause of cor pulmonale but there are others as well1 Often cor pulmonale is more severe if you also have other types of heart disease such as an arrhythmia or a history of a heart attack Common causes of cor pulmonale include 1 Cystic fibrosis 2 Sleep apnea 3 Sclerodermaof the lungs 4 PE (blood clot in the lungs) 5 Lung tissue damage 6 Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) 7 Interstitial lung disease (ILD) 8 Lung cancer COPD is a common cause of heart failureespecially cor pulmonale COPD is a group of pulmonary diseases that include emphysema and chronic bronchitis which are progressive conditions that are associated with a number of complications The early symptoms of cor pulmonale can go unnoticed because the causative lung disease also causes symptoms and some effects may be similar To make matters even more confusing symptoms of cor pulmonale often develop as the underlying lung condition worsens2 Common effects of cor pulmonale include1 1 Wheezing and coughing 2 Intolerance of exercise or even mildly strenuous physical activity (like walking upstairs) 3 General fatigue 4 Shortness of breath (dyspnea) 5 Dizziness 6 Edema (swelling of the feet and/or ankles) The diagnosis for cor pulmonale is usually made in the healthcare provider’s office A physical exam typically picks up any abnormal heart sounds or rhythm fluid retention or protruding neck veins To provide a definitive diagnosis your healthcare provider may also perform the following tests1 1 Echocardiogram which uses sound waves to visualize the heart 2 Chest Xray 3 Computerized tomography (CT) scan of the chest 4 Arterial blood gases(ABG) blood test 5 Pulmonary artery catheterization with the insertion of a catheter into the pulmonary artery to check for heart failure1 6 Ventilation/perfusion scan which uses radioactive materials to examine the airflow and blood flow into the lung Treatment for cor pulmonale is focused on addressing the underlying illness There are also a few treatments that can alleviate some effects of heart failure Management of the underlying lung condition can include3 1 Bronchodilators 2 Steriods 3 Mucolytics 4 Antibiotics if you have a lung infection 5 Blood thinner or interventional procedure for the management of a PE The use of calcium channel blockers is complicated when it comes to cor pulmonale These drugs prevent calcium from entering the cells of blood vessel walls and may relax the pulmonary arteries reducing pulmonary hypertension but they may also adversely affect the heart and respiratory function in some instances4 Treatments aimed at alleviating the effects of cor pulmonale include 1 Oxygen therapy 2 Anticoagulants (blood thinners) which may decrease mortality in persons with pulmonary hypertension4 3 Betablockers to improve heart function5 4 Diuretics such as spironolactone or reninangiotensin s Occupation Registered Nurse Medical Writer.