Two patients are reported who had kyphoscoliotic cardiopulmonary disease with recurrent episodes of congestive heart failure and who had prolonged survival. The possibility of such a good prognosis in patients with this problem is not well appreciated. These cases demonstrate the value of and need for a program of aggressive therapy similar to that given patients with cor pulmonale caused by intrinsic lung disease. In addition, it is emphasized that the same precautions against the use of sedatives and uncontrolled oxygen therapy that are accepted in the treatment of patients with respiratory failure caused by chronic obstructive lung disease are appropriate in the presence of kyphoscoliotic cardiopulmonary disease.
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