Balloon Pulmonary Angioplasty for Chronic Thromboembolic Pulmonary Hypertension

Abstract

Chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) is associated with several risk factors but is most frequently seen as a rare consequence of an acute pulmonary embolism. Surgical pulmonary thromboendarterectomy (PTE) is potentially curative for CTEPH with the best outcomes seen for the treatment of primarily proximal, accessible lobar or segmental disease. For surgically inoperable patients, percutaneous balloon pulmonary angioplasty (BPA) is feasible and has good short- to mid-term efficacy outcomes. This review focuses on the technique and outcomes associated with BPA which has emerged as a new therapeutic option for CTEPH.

Keywords: Balloon pulmonary angioplasty (BPA); Chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH); Pulmonary thromboendarterectomy (PTE).