Balloon pulmonary angioplasty

For CTEPH patients ineligible for pulmonary endarterectomy (PEA), or who have recurrent or persistent pulmonary hypertension after surgery, balloon pulmonary angioplasty (BPA) is an emerging option, and promises haemodynamic and functional benefits for inoperable patients. The rationale is to open obstructed vessels or widen stenotic lesions using a catheter-based intervention. The procedure consists of the identification of pulmonary artery lesions that can be treated; passage of a guide wire across the lesion or occlusion; and balloon dilatation of the target lesions to restore pulmonary blood flow. Staged procedures with repeat catheterisations and dilatations are needed to achieve optimal haemodynamic results. Long-term haemodynamic and clinical follow-up are essential.

The above is a very brief summary, for further information please refer to the source listed below and to other content on CTEPH in the Find knowledge section of this website

Source

“Balloon pulmonary angioplasty in chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension” Irene Lang, Bernhard C. Meyer, Takeshi Ogo, Hiromi Matsubara, Marcin Kurzyna, Hossein-Ardeschir Ghofrani, Eckhard Mayer and Philippe Brenot. Eur Respir Rev 2017; 26: 160119.