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Pickwickian syndrome

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Pickwickian syndrome is named after a character in Charles Dickens' book, "The Pickwick Papers". This character was obese and had a tendency to fall asleep during the day.

Pickwickian syndrome has become a term used to describe individuals who are obese, have some degree of respiratory failure during the day and suffer from cor pulmonale. There is a reliance on hypoxic drive for ventilation rather than hypercapnia.

Other features include:

  • sleep apnoea
  • episodic somnolence
  • secondary polycythaemia
  • right ventricular hypertrophy or failure

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The content herein is provided for informational purposes and does not replace the need to apply professional clinical judgement when diagnosing or treating any medical condition. A licensed medical practitioner should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions.

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