Chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension – Cardiology MCQ

Standard surgical treatment for chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension:
a) Pulmonary thromboendarterectomy
b) Single lung transplantation
c) Pulmonary banding
d) None of the above
Correct answer: a) Pulmonary thromboendarterectomy
In selected patients, pulmonary thromboendarterectomy is curative. But residual pulmonary hypertension after surgery is common. Those with residual pulmonary hypertension need long term follow up and vasodilator therapy with sildenafil or ambrisentan. Pulmonary thromboendarterectomy is a prolonged surgical procedure and can be undertaken only in specialized centres.
Reference

1. Cannon JE et al. Dynamic Risk Stratification of Patient Long-Term Outcome After Pulmonary Endarterectomy: Results From the UK National Cohort. Circulation. 2016; 133: 1761-1771.