Contents

SynopsisCodesDifferential Diagnosis & PitfallsBest TestsReferences
Emergency: requires immediate attention
Eisenmenger complex
Other Resources UpToDate PubMed
Emergency: requires immediate attention

Eisenmenger complex

Contributors: Michael W. Winter MD, Ryan Hoefen MD, PhD
Other Resources UpToDate PubMed

Synopsis

A congenital cardiac flow abnormality caused by a septal defect which reverses left-to-right shunting, allowing backflow and mixing of oxygenated blood from the lungs with deoxygenated returning circulatory blood. Atrial septal defect, ventricular septal defect, or patent ductus arteriosus may cause the flow reversal. Eisenmenger complex is characterized by pulmonary hypertension, cyanosis, high red blood cell count, and arterial oxygen desaturation. Left untreated, heart damage from high pulmonary pressure may be irreversible. Surgical repair may be successful if performed prior to onset of severe pulmonary hypertension and subsequent heart damage.

With a poor prognosis in pregnancy, the condition is life-threatening to both mother and fetus and requires careful monitoring of mother and baby if pregnancy is not discontinued.

Codes

ICD10CM:
I27.89 – Other specified pulmonary heart diseases

SNOMEDCT:
204311009 – Eisenmenger's complex

Differential Diagnosis & Pitfalls

To perform a comparison, select diagnoses from the classic differential

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Best Tests

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References

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Last Updated:01/10/2016
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Emergency: requires immediate attention
Eisenmenger complex
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A medical illustration showing key findings of Eisenmenger complex : Chest pain, Fatigue, Cyanosis, Edema, Nail clubbing, Heart palpitations, Dyspnea, Epistaxis, Hemoptysis, ESR elevated
Copyright © 2024 VisualDx®. All rights reserved.