Why Pulmonary Hypertension Treatment Is Important
Left untreated, pulmonary hypertension (in some cases called pulmonary arterial hypertension) can cause significant damage to your heart and lungs that can only be improved with a lung transplant or heart-lung transplant. While there is no cure for most forms of pulmonary hypertension, early diagnosis and treatment can greatly improve your ability to live with the disease. One type of pulmonary hypertension -- chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH), which is caused by old blood clots that have scarred the blood vessels leading to your lungs -- is potentially curable with surgery.
At Duke, our pulmonologists and cardiologists will review your health history and use sophisticated tools to confirm your diagnosis, identify what type of pulmonary hypertension you have, and help you determine what treatment will be most effective for you.
Tests for Pulmonary Hypertension
Blood Tests
Blood tests that measure your blood oxygen levels, liver and kidney function, and other important indicators help us determine whether you have pulmonary hypertension and what treatments might be helpful if you do.
Chest Radiograph (X-ray)
Images of your lungs can reveal signs of pulmonary hypertension, including enlarged arteries and scarring.
Echocardiogram
An ultrasound probe is moved over the surface of your chest to capture moving images of your heart. This allows us to determine your heart’s chamber dimensions, shape, valve structures, and overall function. It also allows us to estimate the pressures inside the right chamber of your heart.
Electrocardiogram
Small electrodes are placed on your skin to record your heart’s electrical impulses. This information helps us identify any abnormal rhythms, evaluate your heart function, and identify your risk for or prior heart muscle damage.
Cardiac Catheterization
A narrow, flexible tube called a catheter is threaded through a blood vessel to your heart to diagnose pulmonary hypertension and determine whether it has caused damage to your heart muscle.
Lung Function Tests
These tests measure how much air your lungs can hold, how much air moves in and out of your lungs, and your lungs’ ability to exchange oxygen and carbon dioxide.
Nuclear Lung Scan
A nuclear lung scan creates an image of air and blood flow in your lungs. This can be used to identify blood clots in your lungs that may contribute to your condition.
Six-Minute Walk Test
This test evaluates how well your body tolerates exercise and can help determine how severe your pulmonary hypertension is.
Treatments for Pulmonary Hypertension
Oral Medication
Oral medications can help your heart pump blood, reduce excess fluid that puts pressure on your heart, and thin your blood to prevent blood clots.
Intravenous (IV) Medicines
IV drugs are shown to be the most effective in treating the blood vessel scarring that causes pulmonary arterial hypertension and in reducing the high pressure in your heart. These medications can provide relief from chest pain and shortness of breath.
Inhaled Medicines
We offer a variety of inhaled treatment options that help relieve shortness of breath. These include oxygen treatments, iloprost, and inhaled treprostinil.
Pulmonary Thromboendarterectomy (PTE)
This surgical procedure removes blood clots from the arteries in your lungs to help you breathe easier.
If your lungs and/or heart have been damaged by pulmonary hypertension despite treatments, you may be considered for a lung transplant. Duke is among the nation’s leaders in lung and heart-lung transplants performed each year.
Before, during, and after treatment, we offer supervised exercise, education, and medical management. We also give you the tools you need to exercise, eat right, quit smoking, lose weight, and make other lifestyle changes. The goal is to boost your lung function, improve your symptoms, and help you keep your pulmonary hypertension under control.
