Pulmonary Incompetency.

Synonym.—Pulmonary Insufficiency.

Definition.—Pulmonary incompetency is an imperfect closure of the pulmonary orifice of the right ventricle, due to a change in the pulmonary valves.

Etiology.—The disease is rare and usually congenital, though it may result from endocarditis, followed by similar changes that take place in other valvular diseases due to the same source; namely, sclerosis and adhesion of the segments.

Pathology.—In addition to thickening of the valves or partial union of the segments, we have hypertrophy and dilatation of the right ventricle, which, in turn, is followed by tricuspid insufficiency.

Symptoms.—There are no general symptoms that are characteristic, and the physical signs are not reliable. Although a diastolic murmur may be heard in the second right intercostal space and transmitted to the lower sternal region, it is difficult, if not impossible, to separate this from the murmur of aortic regurgitation.

Diagnosis.—The diagnosis is generally made during an autopsy.

The Eclectic Practice of Medicine, 1907, was written by Rolla L. Thomas, M. S., M. D.