Maryland Heart Center

Pulmonary Hypertension

Medical and Surgical Treatments

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PH is a chronic condition that can become life threatening. It has only one known cure -- a surgical treatment known as pulmonary thromboendarterectomy, or PTE. The University of Maryland Medical Center is one of the few medical centers in the country offering this procedure, which is performed by chief of cardiac surgery Dr. Bartley Griffith.

In addition, several non-surgical treatments are available and patients now have more options and improved life expectancy. Medical treatment is aimed at slowing the progression of the disease and improving symptoms. Some possible medications include:

Anticoagulants
Calcium Channel Blockers
Diuretics - reduces fluid in the system
Inhaled oxygen
Bosentan - an oral endothelin receptor antagonist. It works by helping to reduce elevated blood pressure in the lungs, thereby helping the heart to pump blood more effectively.
Epoprostenol - a prostacyclin analogue that helps reduce constriction of lung blood vessels and reducing the high blood pressure in the lungs.
Treprostinil is also a prostacyclin analogue used to reduce constricted blood vessels.
Sildenafil - an oral PDE-5 inhibitor. It works by reducing the pressure in the lungs.
Iloprost - a prostacyclin analogue that is inhaled.

If these treatments are not sufficient, and the patient is not a candidate for PTE, a lung transplant evaluation may be recommended.

Please call if you would like to make an appointment or talk to someone about our services. Patients dial 1-800-492-5538 or 410-328-5842, physicians dial 410-328-6622 or 1-800-318-1019.