Your COPD patient is suspected of having cor pulmonale.Which of the following clinical findings supports this diagnosis?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Jugular venous distension (JVD) is a clinical finding that suggests cor pulmonale. Cor pulmonale is a condition that occurs when there is right-sided heart failure due to a primary lung disease like COPD. This leads to the enlargement of right-side chambers of the heart which can lead to JVD. An enlarged spleen (Option A) can be due to many reasons and is not a specific finding of cor pulmonale. Cyanosis of the mucous membrane (Option B) can be seen in any respiratory disease both acute and chronic. A gallop heart rhythm (Option C) can be seen in many conditions, but it is not specific to cor pulmonale.

Your COPD Patient Is Suspected of Having Cor Pulmonale