Pulmonary hypertension in the critical care setting: classification, pathophysiology, diagnosis, and management.

Abstract

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is common in the critical care setting, and may be a target for specific therapy. Moderate degrees of pulmonary hypertension are most often the consequence of acute or chronic heart failure, hypoxemia, or acute pulmonary embolism, and may be relatively rapidly reversible. The consequences of more severe forms of PH, both acute and chronic, can include hypotension; low cardiac output; right heart failure with congestion of the liver, gut, and kidneys; and varying degrees of hypoxemia, each of which can lead to death or severe disability. We review the physiology, definitions, classification, pathogenesis, diagnostic tools, and algorithms for diagnosis and specific treatments for the various causes of PH as seen in the critical care setting.

Links

Publisher Full Text

Authors

Rubenfire M, Bayram M, Hector-Word Z

Institution

Division of Cardiovascular Medicine and Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48106-0363, USA. mrubenfi@umich.edu

Source

Critical care clinics 23:4 2007 Oct pg 801-34, vi-vii

MeSH

Acute Disease
Algorithms
Cardiovascular Agents
Chronic Disease
Critical Care
Humans
Hypertension, Pulmonary
Thromboembolism

Pub Type(s)

Journal Article
Review

Language

eng

PubMed ID

17964364