Adenotonsillar hypertrophy and cor pulmonale in children

ABSTRACT

Pulmonary heart disease occurring in children with chronic upper airway obstruction resulting from adenotonsillar hypertrophy was previously described. Sixty children with adenotonsillar hypertrophy were subjected to cardiac evaluation using chest radiography, ECG and echocardiography as well as arterial blood gas analysis. Chest radiographs showed cardiomegaly in seven cases, ECG showed right ventricular hypertrophy in six cases, while echocardiography showed right ventricular hypertrophy in nine cases with pulmonary hypertension in twelve cases. Adenotonsillectomy was carried out for all children included in the study. Six months later, all cases improved except one case remained with pulmonary hypertension and right ventricular hypertrophy