Eisenmenger Syndrome: A Comprehensive Review

Eisenmenger syndrome (ES) is a medical complication, arising from large congenital anatomical shunts present in the heart. It is the most severe form of pulmonary hypertension characterized by elevated pulmonary vascular resistance and a reversed right-to-left shunting of blood in originally left-to-right shunting. Due to defects present at birth, pressure gradient initially results in a left-right shunt, which leads to severe pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) and elevated vascular resistance. Eventually, due to increased pulmonary vascular resistance, the left-to-right shunt becomes a right-to-left shunt, leading to significant hypoxemia and cyanosis. Although the syndrome is rare and a cardiovascular nurse may not get to see many patients with Eisenmenger syndrome, nurses need to have some basic knowledge about the syndrome, in case they need to care for such a patient in their clinical practice. This review aims to summarize the current knowledge on pathophysiology, clinical presentation and treatment options available for ES.