Eisenmenger's syndrome

Eisenmenger's syndrome describes the reversal of a left-to-right shunt in a congenital heart defect due to pulmonary hypertension. This occurs when an uncorrected left-to-right leads to remodeling of the pulmonary microvasculature, eventually causing obstruction to pulmonary blood and pulmonary hypertension.

Associated with

• ventricular septal defect
• atrial septal defect
• patent ductus arteriosus

Features

• original murmur may disappear
• cyanosis
• clubbing
• right ventricular failure
• haemoptysis, embolism

Management

• heart-lung transplantation is required