Diagnosis of pulmonary hypertension associated with congenital heart disease. Part 1. Definition, classification and initial examination of patients

Having discussed current definitions and classification of pulmonary hypertension associated with congenital heart defects, the authors consider characteristic clinical symptoms and data of physical examination separately for every subgroup. An increase in pulmonary vascular resistance after radical correction and with small / concomitant defects leads to insufficient filling of the systemic ventricle and the progression of symptoms of low cardiac output , i.e. shortness of breath, palpitations, fatigue, weakness and decreased exercise tolerance. At late stages, due to transient systemic hypotension the patients feel dizziness, lightheadedness and fainting, as well as signs of congestive right ventricular failure – peripheral edema, liver enlargement, ascites and swelling of the cervical veins. The patients with Eisenmenger syndrome develop cyanosis and signs of systemic complications – polycythemia, deformation of the distal phalanges of the fingers like «drumsticks» and «watch glasses», posture disturbance due to osteoarthropathy and scoliosis, pulmonary and paradoxical systemic thrombosis and embolism, bleeding, symptoms of gout and cholelithiasis, impaired renal function. Even mild pulmonary hypertension after Fontaine’s surgery causes venous hypertension with congestive heart failure, hydrothorax, protein deficiency enteropathy and plastic bronchitis, as well as insufficient blood flow to the systemic ventricle with low cardiac output, shortness of breath, palpitations, fatigue, weakness and decreased exercise tolerance. All forms of pulmonary hypertension cause pain in the region of the heart, hemoptysis, pulmonary hemorrhage, arrhythmias, and developmental delay in children. The patient shall be examined «from head to toe.» The diagnostic value of auscultation depends on the complexity of the congenital malformation leading to pulmonary hypertension Pulse oximetry should be performed separately on the arms and legs at rest and exercise.

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