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Cor pulmonale Physiotherapy Pulmonary medicine Pulmonology Respiratory system

Physical and Systemic Signs of Cor Pulmonale

In this article we will discuss the Physical and Systemic Signs of Cor Pulmonale

In this article we will discuss the Physical and Systemic Signs of Cor Pulmonale. So, let’s get started.

Physical Signs

  • Patient is orthopnoic, sits with elbows supported on a table and legs dangling by the side of the bed.
  • Purse-lip breathing and cyanosis (lips, tongue, and buccal cavity) will be present in patients with COPD with acute exacerbation.
  • Periorbital edema
  • Neck veins: Distended with raised JVP and ‘VY’ collapse due to tricuspid regurgitation.
  • Peripheral edema

Systemic Signs

  • Respiratory system may show signs of COPD (barrel-shaped chest, restricted chest movements and expansion, hyper-resonant note and vesicular breathing with prolonged expiration, muffled breath sounds).
  • Signs of RV hypertrophy or failure, e.g. parasternal heave, loud P2, midsystolic and early diastolic (Grahm-steel) murmur and pansystolic or holosystolic murmur of tricuspid regurgitation (Carvallo’s sign) may be present.
  • Abdominal examination: Abdomen may be distended with tender hepatomegaly. Hepatojugular reflex may be present. Ascites may also be present.

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