Chest X-ray
The basic principles about the chest X-ray examination.
Pathology (Part 2)
Heart failure
In heart failure, cardiac output is reduced, resistance is increased or the fluid volume is excessive (mostly in the left ventricle). As a result, the blood is no longer adequately pumped out from the lungs into the large circulation.
In healthy situations, gas exchange takes place on the capillary-alveolar level, particularly in the lower lung fields. If gas exchange is inadequate, as in heart failure, the upper fields will be used to compensate in order to improve oxygenation.
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Text & illustrations
drs. A. van der Plas, MSK radiologist Maastricht UMC+
Sources:
- W. R. Webb MD, C. B. Higgins. Thoracic Imaging: Pulmonary and Cardiovascular Radiology (second edition, 2011).
- L. R Goodman. Felson’s Principles of Chest Roentgenology (third edition, 2011)
- J.E.Takasugi, J.D. Godwin. Radiology of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Radiol Clin North Am. 1998 Jan;36
- S. Whitley et al. Clark’s Positioning in Radiography (12th Edition)
24/01/2014
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