title: Care of the patient with pulmonary arterial hypertension.
abstract: Patients presenting with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), the rarest of the groups of pulmonary hypertension diagnoses, are infrequently seen in the critical care arena. However, when patients with PAH present in the intensive care unit, it is generally related to an exhaustion of treatments. This article focuses on the current state of the literature addressing the group designation, pathophysiology, symptom expression, and treatment modalities of the patient with PAH.
authors.affiliation: Carol S. Smith, PhD, RN, is assistant professor in Lansing School of Nursing and Health Sciences at Bellarmine University, Louisville, Kentucky. Nancy L. York, PhD, RN, is assistant dean of Lansing School of Nursing and Health Sciences at Bellarmine University, Louisville, Kentucky. Christy J. Kane, PhD, RRT-NPS, is associate professor in Lansing School of Nursing and Health Sciences at Bellarmine University, Louisville, Kentucky. Frederick Weitendorf, RPh, RN, is adjunct professor of pharmacology in Lansing School of Nursing and Health Sciences at Bellarmine University, Louisville, Kentucky.
authors.forename: Carol S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: Nancy L
authors.initials: NL
authors.lastname: York
authors.forename: Christy J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Kane
authors.forename: Frederick
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Weitendorf
mesh_terms: D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003422:Critical Care; D006801:Humans; D006976:Hypertension, Pulmonary / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D011651:Pulmonary Artery / Q000473:pathology*; D012121:Respiration, Artificial
chemical_list: D000959:Antihypertensive Agents