Cardiac Catheterization in Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension: A Guide to Proper Use

Abstract

This article will discuss several features of cardiac catheterization, specifically right-heart catheterization, as they relate to patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH).The accepted gold standard definition of pulmonary hypertension is defined by most experts as a mean pulmonary arterial pressure of ≥ 25 mmHg, with a concomitant pulmonary capillary wedge (PCW) pressure of ≤15 mmHg, and pulmonary vascular resistance of >3 Wood units. These criteria are derived from the National Institutes of Health registry of patients with primary pulmonary hypertension.