Cor Pulmonale - Diseases

What is the condition?
of chronic heart disease, Cor pulmonale is an increase of the right ventricle that results from various lung diseases, except those that primarily affect the left side of the heart, or congenital heart disease. Invariably, Cor pulmonale follows some disorder of the lung, pulmonary vessels, chest wall, or respiratory control center. For example, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease produces pulmonary hypertension, which leads to right ventricular enlargement and failure. Since Cor pulmonale generally occurs late in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and other irreversible disease, the prognosis is generally poor.
What causes it?
About 85% of people with cor pulmonale are chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. And 25% of people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease eventually develop cor pulmonale.
Other respiratory diseases that produce Cor pulmonale are:

• obstructive lung diseases such as bronchiectasis and cystic fibrosis
• the loss of lung tissue after extensive lung surgery
• diseases of the lungs' blood vessels
• respiratory insufficiency without pulmonary disease, as seen in muscular dystrophy and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
• obesity hypoventilation syndrome (Pickwickian syndrome) and upper airway obstruction
• live at high altitudes (chronic mountain sickness ).

To compensate for the extra work needed to force blood through the lungs, the right ventricle dilates and increases. Eventually, this leads to right ventricular failure. Cor pulmonale accounts for about 25% of all types of heart failure.
Cor pulmonale is most common in areas of the world where the incidence of cigarette smoking and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is high, it affects middle-aged men more than women, but the incidence in women is increasing. In children, Cor pulmonale can be a complication of cystic fibrosis, upper airway obstruction, scleroderma, extensive bronchiectasis, or other disorders.
What are the symptoms?
How is it diagnosed?
Pulmonary artery pressure measurements show increased right ventricular and pulmonary artery pressures as a result of increased pulmonary vascular resistance. Other useful diagnostic tests include echo cardiography (ultrasound of the heart) or angiography, chest X-ray, arterial blood gas analysis, Electrocardiography, pulmonary function tests, and hematocrit.
How is it treated?
Treatment of cor pulmonale is designed to reduce the lack of oxygen, increased exercise tolerance, people, and when possible, to correct the underlying condition.In the rest, treatment may include administration:

• digitalis glycosides (such as Lanoxin)
• the presence of antibiotics when infections of the respiratory system
• a potent pulmonary artery vasodilators (such as Hyperstat, Nipride, Aresoline, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, calcium channel blockers or prostaglandin) in primary pulmonary hypertension
• oxygen mask, or in acute cases, the mechanical ventilator
• low-salt diet, restricted fluid intake, and diuretics such as Lasix, to reduce swelling
• phlebotomy to reduce red blood

cells
-. Anticoagulation with low doses Calciparine to reduce the risk of thromboembolism