Cor Pulmonale

There has been attempted a description of right heart failure called cor pulmonale which, while in the chronic forms, not always a clearly defined clinical entity, is much commoner than generally realized. Chronic cor pulmonale may present the clinical picture of general or "whole" congestive heart failure, although there are to be found examples of pure right ventricular failure. It is acute cor pulmonale which deserves most attention because in some cases it may be preventable. It may be confused with cardiac infarction and the differential diagnosis, including further study of the electrocardiographic changes, should receive more attention. The increase in the clinical and experimental investigation of venous thrombosis, both phlebothrombosis and thrombophlebitis, should add to our knowledge of methods of preventing pulmonary embolism. As our clinical awareness of this form of heart trouble increases, we will discover more frequent examples of acute cor pulmonale.