[Percutaneous balloon angioplasty for treatment of chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension]

Abstract

Chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension is characterized by the presence of organized thrombotic material in the pulmonary arteries which causes elevation of the pulmonary vascular resistance, right heart failure, and death if not treated. Pulmonary thromboendarterectomy is the treatment of choice and can be curative when the obstruction is proximal. There are cases in which this therapy is not possible, and pulmonary angioplasty is a therapeutic alternative of growing interest. We present our experience with three patients diagnosed with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension in whom pulmonary endarterectomy was not possible and pulmonary angioplasty was performed. All patients showed improvement of functional class, six-minute walk distance, and hemodynamic as well as angiographic parameters.

Keywords: angiography; endarterectomy; pulmonary embolism pulmonary angioplasty; pulmonary hypertension.