Inova's Multidisciplinary Approach to Treating Chronic Thromboembolic Pulmonary Hypertension (CTEPH)

Chronic Thromboembolic Pulmonary Hypertension (CTEPH) Chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) is a rare condition of high blood pressure in the lungs’ arteries caused by blood clots that narrow and limit the blood flow to the lungs. It causes shortness of breath and may be a consequence of acute pulmonary emboli, but it can also present without prior diagnosis of pulmonary emboli. Radiographic images show a 75-year-old man with lifestyle limiting CTEPH who underwent balloon pulmonary angioplasty (BPA). Left A8 segment is shown pre- and post-BPA procedure. Visit inova.org/cteph for a complete list of risk factors and symptoms Inova’s Pulmonary Hypertension Program offers these patients a comprehensive evaluation through its new multidisciplinary CTEPH service, which incorporates the expertise of pulmonary and critical care medicine, interventional pulmonology, cardiac surgery, invasive and noninvasive cardiology, thoracic and interventional radiology. This team provides state-of-the-art care through an array of surgical, interventional and medical therapies. The program has drawn patients not only from the greater Washington, DC, region, but also throughout Virginia, Maryland and West Virginia. In addition to the traditional treatment for proximal CTEPH – surgical pulmonary thromboendarterectomy (PTE) – IHVI at Inova Fairfax Medical Campus now offers balloon pulmonary angioplasty (BPA), a less invasive interventional approach for patients with affected vessels that are more distal and not amenable to surgical intervention. Inova is currently one of very few institutions in the country offering BPA as a treatment option for CTEPH patients. Our experienced team also provides medical therapies to complement and complete our portfolio of treatment options for patients who are not candidates for either PTE or BPA. Since the inception of the program at the end of 2020, we have performed 10 PTEs (0-percent mortality, average length of stay of 9 days) and 21 BPA procedures. All the PTE and BPA patients demonstrated normalization of their hemodynamics with significant improvement in their symptoms and quality of life. To Discuss a CTEPH Case or Refer a Patient 703-776-6168 I phreferrals@inova.org I inova.org/ph