Right heart catheterization is the gold standard for the assessment of pulmonary hypertension. It is critical at different steps in the differential diagnosis and the distinction between post and pre capillary PH. It also provides insights on outcome and is an important guide for treatment decisions in pulmonary vascular diseases (PAH and CTEPH) and in advanced heart failure (MCS and HTX). Although widely used in clinical practice, RHC requires specific knowledge both in data collection and interpretation of results.

This webinar will cover some challenging situations illustrating the importance of invasive hemodynamic assessment in advances cardiac and respiratory conditions.
 

Scientific Program

Moderators: Ioana Preston, MD and Jaime Hernandez-Montfort, MD, MPH

Absolute Beginners: RHC in Pre Capillary PH
Colin Church, BSC(Hons), PhD, FRCP, Golden Jubilee National Hospital, Glasgow, UK
This talk will cover the importance of RHC in the evaluation of pre capillary PH and discuss how invasive HD is integrated in the assessment of severity in PAH/CTEPH.

A Town Called Malice: What is the Wedge? Invasive Hemodynamics in Advanced HF
Ryan Tedford, MD, Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC), Charleston, SC, USA
The distinction between pre and post capillary PH is based on PAWP, a single pressure measurement. As simple as it seems, this measurement may be difficult to record (when, how). This talk will discuss technical issues, what are the normal values and how to interpret PAWP in patients with HF.

Going Underground: Can This Patient be Weaned from LVAD?
Emma Birks, MD, PhD, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA
There is growing evidence that patients implanted with a LVAD may safely be weaned from the device. Although no specific protocol has been accepted, many centers use RHC at rest or during exercise for decision-making purposes. This talk will cover the role of RHC in identifying patients in whom weaning may be considered.

That’s Entertainment: Testing Vasoreactivity in PH
Celine Dewachter, MD, PhD, Erasme Hospital, Brussels, Belgium
Pulmonary hypertension is a hemodynamic condition. In some specific clinical situations, PH may be reversed even in the presence of disturbed hemodynamics. This talk will discuss the role of vasoreactivity testing in PAH, left heart disease and MCS/HTX.

Live Q&A Segment with All Speakers

ISHLT Announcements
Greg Schultz, CEO, ISHLT, Addison, TX, USA
 

Continuing Education Information

Learning Objectives – at the conclusion of this session, attendees will be able to:

• learn the importance of RHC in the evaluation of pre capillary PH
• discuss how invasive HD is integrated in the assessment of severity in PAH/CTEPH
• identify the distinction between pre and post capillary PH is based on PAWP: A single pressure measurement
• describe the role of RHC in identifying patients in whom weaning may be considered.
• recognize the role of vasoreactivity testing in PAH, left heart disease and MCS/HTX.
   

Target Audience – The target audience for the ISHLTv Webinar: All Mod Cons: Right Heart Catheterization Pearls and Gems in Pulmonary Hypertension webinar includes physicians, surgeons, scientists, pharmacists, nurses, transplant coordinators and other allied health and social science professionals engaged in the management and treatment of patients with advanced heart or lung disease, basic science or clinical research related to these fields, or other specialties which cause them to become involved in the treatment of patients with advanced heart or lung disease.

Activity Designed to Change – This activity is designed to change knowledge.

Learning Attributes   Patient Care and Medical Knowledge

Disclosures – Current guidelines state that participants in continuing medical and allied health professional education activities must be made aware of any affiliation or financial interest that may affect the program content or a speaker’s presentation. Planners, Faculty and Chairs participating in this meeting are required to disclose to the program audience any real or apparent conflict(s) of interest related to the content of their presentation or service as Chair/Planner. Disclosures will be distributed in the Learner Notification that you receive as a participant prior to the live virtual session. Additionally, all speakers have been asked to verbally disclose at the start of their presentation any financial interest or affiliations and to indicate if a product they are discussing is not labeled for the use under discussion or is still investigational.

Disclaimer – The information presented in this activity represents the opinion of the faculty and is not necessarily the official position of the ISHLT.

Documenting CME Credits – The ISHLT provides CME certificates to those who have participated in an ISHLT educational activity. The ISHLT does not submit credits to regulating bodies or certifying organizations on behalf of the participants. It is the participants responsibility to submit proof of credits on his or her own behalf.