[Invasive cardiac catheter procedure for thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension]

The hemodynamic assessment and angiographic visualization of the pulmonary artery system are the mayor components for the diagnostic and therapeutical planning for patients with known or suspected pulmonary hypertension due to chronic thromboembolism. The pulmonary artery pressure and the pulmonary arterial resistance both reflect the severity of the disease. Pulmonary wave form analysis allows to some degree an etiologic differentiation of pulmonary hypertension. The typical angiographic findings of central pulmonary embolism are best identified by biplane side and lobe selected angiography of the arterial and venous phase with simultaneous consideration of the overall contrast medium exposure. Typical occasional coronary findings are residues of coronary embolism in patients with patent foramen ovale and excentric compression of the left main stem probably due to dilatation of the pulmonary artery.