Pulmonary heart

Cor pulmonale is a state of overload and hypertrophy of the right parts of the heart, which occurs in chronic non-specific lung diseases, pulmonary embolism, etc. It is based on an increase in pressure in the pulmonary circulation. There are acute (over several hours, days), subacute (over several weeks, months) and chronic (over many years) development of cor pulmonale. It leads to: diseases affecting the lung tissue (chronic obstructive bronchitis, emphysema, pneumosclerosis, pulmonary infarction, extensive pneumonia); changes in the musculoskeletal system that provides ventilation of the lungs (severe forms of curvature of the spine); primary lesions of the pulmonary vessels.

Symptoms and course. In acute and subacute cor pulmonale – symptoms characteristic of infarct pneumonia. Signs of insufficiency of the right parts of the heart are growing, the neck veins swell, the liver is enlarged. In chronic cor pulmonale, shortness of breath, cyanosis, an increase in the number of erythrocytes, hemoglobin in peripheral blood, and a slowdown in ESR are noted.

Recognition is carried out on the basis of clinical data, changes in the electrocardiogram and radiographs of the lungs.

Treatment of acute and subacute pulmonary heart is primarily the treatment of pulmonary embolism, and chronic – includes cardiac, diuretics, the use of heparin, hirudin, leeches, bloodletting, oxygen therapy and is focused on reducing the manifestations of oxygen starvation of tissues and circulatory failure. Physical activity is limited.

Articles from the forum on the topic ” Cor pulmonale “