Evaluation of patients with suspected chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension.
Chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) can be a difficult diagnosis to establish, typically requiring a high index of suspicion on the part of the clinician when challenged by a patient reporting exertional dyspnea. The importance of this diagnosis is heightened by the appreciation that it is a potentially curable form of pulmonary hypertension, by a surgical procedure called pulmonary thromboendarterectomy. This article highlights the clinical presentation, evaluation, and criteria for surgical candidacy of those patients suspected of having CTEPH.
Auger
W R
WR
Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, University of California, San Diego 92103-8381, USA.
Channick
R N
RN
Kerr
K M
KM
Fedullo
P F
PF
D002908:Chronic Disease; D006801:Humans; D006976:Hypertension, Pulmonary / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D008168:Lung / Q000098:blood supply; D011651:Pulmonary Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed