Critical care of patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension

This article will summarize the available literature and expert guidance on the topic. Patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension may require ICU care as a direct consequence of decompensated right heart failure. Alternatively, patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension may be affected by the myriad of maladies encountered every day in the ICU including acute respiratory failure, septic shock, and gastrointestinal bleeding. The treatment plan should focus on identifying and treating the cause for decompensation. In addition, optimization of right ventricular preload, reduction of right ventricular afterload, correction of hypotension and augmentation of right ventricular inotropy should be considered. Summary The approach to ICU care of patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension requires special consideration with regard to intubation and mechanical ventilation and management of volume status and hemodynamics. Whenever possible, these patients should be transferred to centers with experience in treating this complex, vulnerable population.
Source: Current Opinion in Pulmonary Medicine - Category: Respiratory Medicine Tags: DISORDERS OF THE PULMONARY CIRCULATION: Edited by Steven D. Nathan and Christopher S. King Source Type: research