Comparison of Antecubital Venous Access and Proximal Venous Access for Right Heart Catheterisation

Right heart catheterisation (RHC) plays a central role in identifying pulmonary hypertension (PH) disorders, and is required to definitively diagnose pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). Despite widespread acceptance, there is a lack of guidance regarding the best practice for performing RHC in clinical practice. In order to ensure the correct evaluation of haemodynamic parameters directly measured or calculated from RHC, attention should be drawn to standardising procedures such as the position of the pressure transducer and catheter balloon inflation volume. Measurement of pulmonary arterial wedge pressure, in particular, is vulnerable to over- or under-wedging, which can give rise to false readings. In turn, errors in RHC measurement and data interpretation can complicate the differentiation of PAH from other PH disorders and lead to misdiagnosis. In addition to diagnosis, the role of RHC in conjunction with noninvasive tests is widening rapidly to encompass monitoring of treatment response and establishing prognosis of patients diagnosed with PAH. However, further standardisation of RHC is warranted to ensure optimal use in routine clinical practice.

Download Full-text

Abstract 14268: Responses to Exercise During Right Heart Catheterisation in Pulmonary Hypertension

Circulation ◽

10.1161/circ.142.suppl_3.14268 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 142 (Suppl_3) ◽

Author(s):

Stephanie Wiltshire ◽

Katherine Kearney ◽

Karen Brown ◽

Carolyn Corrigan ◽

Annette Pidoux ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Pulmonary Artery ◽

Statistical Significance ◽

Peripheral Resistance ◽

Hemodynamic Response ◽

Stroke Work ◽

Hemodynamic Changes ◽

Right Heart ◽

Heart Catheterisation ◽

Right Heart Catheterisation ◽

Response To Exercise

Background: Hemodynamic changes during exercise at right heart catheterisation (RHC) may be a diagnostic and prognostic tool in pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). Method and Results: We retrospectively assessed the hemodynamic response to exercise during RHC of 138 patients with PAH secondary to idiopathic PAH (IPAH), connective tissue disease (CTD) or congenital heart disease (CHD). RHCs were performed at a single centre between 2007 and 2018. A submaximal comfort-based protocol on a reclined bicycle or straight leg raise test (SLRT) was employed. IPAH demonstrated the highest mean pulmonary artery pressure (mPAP) at rest, rising 47% with exercise, but a 66% rise in CO allowed pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) to fall. Those with CTD demonstrated a 56% rise in mPAP, 70% rise in CO and PVR remained unchanged. In CHD, there was a 46% rise in mPAP, 49% rise in CO and a rise in PVR. Notably, there was a rise in pulmonary artery wedge pressure (PAWP) in all groups, most marked in those with IPAH. Total peripheral resistance (TPR), pulmonary artery compliance (PAC) and pulmonary artery elastance (Ea) changes were variable. TPR marginally decreased in IPAH patients, remained unchanged in those with CTD and increased in CHD. PAC decreased in all groups, with the lowest values observed in those with IPAH. Ea increased in all groups but was most notably higher in those with IPAH. Right ventricular stroke work index (RVSWI) increased in all patients, the lowest values before and after exercise were observed in the CTD cohort. Mean pulmonary artery pulsatility index (PaPi) increased in all groups, although was subtle and didn’t meet statistical significance for those with CTD and CHD. Conclusions: The hemodynamic response to exercise in patients with PAH differs between aetiologies. A rise in PAWP occurred in all groups, with ventricular interdependence a possible explanation. Whether there is a relationship between exercise hemodynamic changes and prognosis remains undetermined.

Download Full-text

Exercise right heart catheterisation before and after pulmonary endarterectomy in patients with chronic thromboembolic disease

European Respiratory Journal ◽

10.1183/13993003.00458-2018 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 52 (3) ◽

pp. 1800458 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Stefan Guth ◽

Christoph B. Wiedenroth ◽

Andreas Rieth ◽

Manuel J. Richter ◽

Ekkehard Gruenig ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Pulmonary Hypertension ◽

Thromboembolic Disease ◽

Pulmonary Endarterectomy ◽

Right Heart ◽

Heart Catheterisation ◽

Right Heart Catheterisation ◽

Before And After ◽

The Mean ◽

Chronic Thromboembolic Disease ◽

The Impact

Symptomatic patients with chronic thromboembolic disease (CTED) without pulmonary hypertension often show an excessive increase in mean pulmonary arterial pressure (MPAP) during exercise.We report on the impact of pulmonary endarterectomy (PEA) on pulmonary haemodynamics in a prospective series of 32 consecutive CTED patients who underwent PEA. All patients had a comprehensive diagnostic work-up including right heart catheterisation at baseline and 12 months after PEA. Furthermore, in 12 patients exercise right heart catheterisation was performed before and after PEA.After PEA, MPAP was lower at rest (20±3 versus 17±3 mmHg; p=0.008) and during maximal exercise (39±8 versus 31±6 mmHg; p=0.016). The mean total pulmonary resistance (TPR) decreased from 3.6±0.8 Wood Units (WU) pre-operatively to 2.7±0.7 WU 1 year after PEA (p=0.004) and the mean slope of the MPAP/cardiac output (CO) relationship decreased from 3.6±1.0 to 2.3±0.8 WU (p=0.002). Peak oxygen uptake increased from 1.2±0.4 to 1.5±0.3 L·min−1 (p=0.014) and ventilatory equivalents of carbon dioxide decreased from 39±2 to 30±2 (p=0.002). There was a significant improvement in quality of life assessed by the Cambridge Pulmonary Hypertension Outcome Review questionnaire.In CTED patients, PEA resulted in haemodynamic and clinical improvements. The means of TPR and MPAP/CO slopes decreased to <3.0 WU.

Download Full-text