Right-sided heart failure
Symptoms
- Chest discomfort, usually in the front of the chest
- Exercise intolerance
- Shortness of breath
- Swelling of the feet or ankles
- Symptoms of underlying disorders (wheezing, coughing)
Signs and tests
- Abnormal fluid collection in the abdomen
- Abnormal heart sounds
- Bluish color to the skin (
cyanosis ) - Enlargement of the liver
- Swelling (distension) of the neck veins, indicating high right-heart pressures
- Swelling of the ankles
The following tests may help diagnose cor pulmonale:
- Blood antibody tests
- Blood test for brain natriuretic peptide (BNP)
-
Chest x-ray -
CT scan of the chest -
Echocardiogram -
Lung biopsy (rarely performed) - Measurement of blood oxygen by arterial blood gas (
ABG ) -
Pulmonary function tests -
Right heart catheterization -
Ventilation and perfusion scan of the lungs (V/Q scan)
Previous Section
