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Increasing Pulmonary Artery Pulsatile Flow Improves Hypoxic Pulmonary Hypertension in Piglets
08:08

Increasing Pulmonary Artery Pulsatile Flow Improves Hypoxic Pulmonary Hypertension in Piglets

Published on: May 11, 2015

Treatment of pediatric pulmonary hypertension

Amy Hawkins1, Robert Tulloh

  • 1Department of Congenital Heart Disease, Bristol Royal Hospital for Children, Bristol BS2 8BJ, UK.

Vascular Health and Risk Management
|June 26, 2009
PubMed

Insights

Pulmonary hypertension is increasingly diagnosed across various clinical settings due to advances like echocardiography. Current understanding and treatments offer better management for this previously fatal condition.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Pulmonology
  • Pathology

Background:

  • Pulmonary hypertension (PH) was historically rare, managed only in specialized centers.
  • Echocardiography has increased PH diagnosis across diverse clinical scenarios, including neonates, intensive care units, connective tissue diseases, and perioperative cardiology.
  • Improved understanding of PH pathophysiology and available treatments offer better palliation for this condition.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review current knowledge and less familiar aspects of pulmonary hypertension.
  • To explain the underlying physiology of pulmonary hypertension and pulmonary vascular disease.
  • To describe histopathology, diagnostic tools, and current/future therapeutic options for PH.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of known and less familiar areas of pulmonary hypertension.
  • Explanation of basic physiology and histopathology.
  • Description of diagnostic tools and therapeutic strategies.

Main Results:

  • Pulmonary hypertension is now recognized in a wider range of clinical situations.
  • A better understanding of the pathological process is available.
  • A range of medications can now help palliate PH.

Conclusions:

  • Pulmonary hypertension diagnosis and management have evolved significantly.
  • This review provides a comprehensive overview of PH, from physiology to future therapies.
  • Advances in understanding and treatment offer improved outcomes for PH patients.

Keywords:
congenital heart diseasepulmonary hypertensionpulmonary vascular resistancepulmonary vasodilators

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