A number of echocardiographic findings may be identified in a patient with cor pulmonale. Cor pulmonale results in afterloading of the right ventricle.
Key features:
(1) dilation of the right ventricle (right ventricular enlargement)
(2) septal dyskinesis with septal flattening and paradoxic septal motion
Additional findings:
(1) right ventricular hypertrophy (may be mild in acute cor pulmonale, moderate or severe in chronic)
(2) diastolic left ventricular impairment with altered mitral blood flow (A wave much greater than E)
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