Rapid development of cor pulmonale following acute tonsillitis in adults.
We describe two adult patients in whom acute tonsillitis resulted in the rapid development of cor pulmonale in the absence of clinically evident upper airway obstruction or diffuse obstructive airway disease. Both patients had developed symptoms of sleep apnea and all-night polysomnography confirmed the presence of severe obstructive sleep apnea. These cases emphasize the potentially severe cardiovascular consequences of acute tonsillar hypertrophy in the obese adult patient.
Randall
C S
CS
Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Rhode Island Hospital 02903.
Braman
S S
SS
Millman
R P
RP
D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D000402:Airway Obstruction / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications; D011660:Pulmonary Heart Disease / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D014069:Tonsillitis / Q000150:complications*