[A clinicopathological analysis in 46 elderly cases with cor pulmonale].

OBJECTIVE

To recognize the successful experience in diagnosis of cor pulmonale.

METHOD

Autopsy records of 46 elderly patients with cor pulmonale were retrospectively analyzed.

RESULTS

The average age of cor pulmonale in aged patients is 65. Most patients were died in the age of 70-79. The rates of incorrect diagnosis and mis diagnoss of cor pulmonale in elderly patients were 27% and 6% respectively. Chronic bronchitis and chronic obstructive emphysema were the most commen causes of cor pulmonale in elderly patients with a rate of 84%. The main cause of death were respiratory failure and heart failure with a rate of 53%. The average thickness of right ventricle wall increased with the course of cor pulmonale and the age of death. About 41% cor pumonale cases were combined with coronary heart disease.

CONCLUSIONS

These results indicated that the rate of incorrect diagnoses of cor pulmonale in elderly patients was high, and great effort should be made to draw the clinician's attention for diagnose this illness correctly. The best way to reduce the incidence of cor pulmonale is to prevent and treat chronic bronchitis and chronic obstructive emphysema. Prevent and treat respiratory failure and heart failure effectively may decrease the mortality of cor pulmonale in elderly patients.