[Diagnosis and care of postembolic pulmonary hypertension: the role of the pneumologist]

Rev Pneumol Clin. 2008 Dec;64(6):316-24. doi: 10.1016/j.pneumo.2008.09.009. Epub 2008 Nov 26.
[Article in French]

Abstract

The prognosis of postembolic pulmonary hypertension, a rare and serious disease, has been transformed with the curative intervention of pulmonary endarteriectomy. The screening is based on two key non invasive examinations, the cardiac ultrasound and ventilation-perfusion scintigraphy. The confirmation of the diagnosis and the determination of the best therapeutic options then relies on the expertise of the national reference centre, based on the haemodynamics and the morphological data provided by pulmonary angiography and spiral computerised tomography. Although the technique of endarteriectomy is fully validated, a drug approach is in the assessment process, both in the inoperable forms or when confronted with persistent postsurgical pulmonary hypertension.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Angiography
  • Endarterectomy
  • Humans
  • Hypertension, Pulmonary / diagnosis*
  • Hypertension, Pulmonary / etiology
  • Hypertension, Pulmonary / therapy*
  • Patient Selection
  • Pulmonary Embolism / complications
  • Pulmonary Embolism / diagnostic imaging
  • Pulmonary Embolism / surgery*
  • Tomography, Spiral Computed