Balloon pulmonary angioplasty for treatment of chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension.
BACKGROUND
Although pulmonary thromboendarterectomy is increasingly successful for the definitive treatment of chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH), not all patients have surgically accessible disease. Others are poor surgical candidates because of comorbid illness. Therefore, for selected patients, we defined and implemented an alternative interventional strategy of balloon pulmonary angioplasty (BPA).


RESULTS
Eighteen patients (mean age, 51.8 years; range, 14 to 75 years) with CTEPH underwent BPA; they averaged 2.6 procedures (range, 1 to 5) and 6 dilations (range, 1 to 12). Selection of pulmonary artery segments for dilation required (1) complete occlusion, (2) filling defects, or (3) signs of intravascular webs. After an average of 36 months of follow-up (range, 0.5 to 66 months), the average New York Heart Association class improved from 3.3 to 1.8 (P:<0.001), and 6-minute walking distances increased from 209 to 497 yards (P:<0.0001). Pulmonary artery mean pressures decreased from 43.0+/-12.1 to 33. 7+/-10.2 mm Hg (P:=0.007). Eleven patients developed reperfusion pulmonary edema; 3 required mechanical ventilation.


CONCLUSIONS
BPA reduces pulmonary artery hypertension in patients with CTEPH and is associated with long-term improvement in New York Heart Association class and 6-minute walking distances. BPA is a promising interventional technique that warrants randomized comparison with medical therapy in CTEPH patients who are not surgical candidates.
Feinstein
J A
JA
Department of Pediatric Cardiology, Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
Goldhaber
S Z
SZ
Lock
J E
JE
Ferndandes
S M
SM
Landzberg
M J
MJ
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000800:Angioplasty, Balloon / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000401:mortality; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004232:Diuretics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006439:Hemodynamics; D006801:Humans; D006976:Hypertension, Pulmonary / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010102:Oxygen Inhalation Therapy; D011654:Pulmonary Edema / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D004232:Diuretics