In this article, we will discuss in brief the Management of Cor Pulmonale. So, let’s get started.
Management
- The patient is rested in a supine comfortable position.
- Treatment of the basic cause.
- The patient is advised to avoid smoking.
- O2 therapy: O2 therapy to be given intermittently.
- Salt restriction and diuretics: Salt restriction is advised to avoid fluid retention and RV volume overload. Intravenous diuretics such as furosemide, etc are given to relieve fluid overload.
- Bronchodilators: They are given intravenously to relieve bronchospasm (due to acute exacerbation) and to improve oxygenation.
- Carbonic-anhydrase inhibitor, e.g. acetazolamide to be given in order to relieve hypercapnia.
- Antibiotics are given to treat superadded infection causing acute exacerbation.
- Reduction of afterload by angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (ACE inhibitors) in patients with left heart failure causing right heart failure.