complications
Last reviewed 01/2018
The complications of COAD include:
- respiratory failure:
- a late complication
- defined by a PaO2 of less than 8 kPa (60mmHg) or a PaCO2 of greater than 7 kPa (55mmHg)
- pulmonary artery hypertension:
- caused by chronic alveolar hypoxia and hypercapnia lead to constriction of the pulmonary arterioles
- cor pulmonale:
- right heart failure
- fluid retention
- chronic hypoxia
- polycythaemia
- pneumothorax
- weight loss
- carcinoma of the bronchus