Neuromuscular disease, respiratory failure and cor pulmonale

Respiratory muscle weakness is an uncommon cause of chronic respiratory failure and a rare cause of cor pulmonale. The problem may not be apparent unless specific physical signs are sought or appropriate investigations performed. We present three patients who presented diagnostic difficulty for prol...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Postgraduate medical journal 1992-10, Vol.68 (804), p.820-823
Main Authors: White, J., Bullock, R. E., Hudgson, P., Gibson, G. J.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Female
Humans
Intermittent Positive-Pressure Ventilation
Male
Neuromuscular Diseases - complications
Neuromuscular Diseases - diagnosis
Pulmonary Heart Disease - etiology
Respiratory Insufficiency - etiology
Respiratory Insufficiency - therapy
Respiratory Muscles
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Summary:Respiratory muscle weakness is an uncommon cause of chronic respiratory failure and a rare cause of cor pulmonale. The problem may not be apparent unless specific physical signs are sought or appropriate investigations performed. We present three patients who presented diagnostic difficulty for prolonged periods until the presence of respiratory muscle weakness was considered. Once the diagnosis was established treatment with nocturnal nasal intermittent positive pressure ventilation produced a dramatic improvement in symptoms and allowed a return to a near normal lifestyle.
ISSN:0032-5473
1469-0756
DOI:10.1136/pgmj.68.804.820