Pulmonary hypertension

About

The pulmonary hypertension service at Hammersmith Hospital is a multidisciplinary team providing diagnosis, investigations, outpatient and inpatient treatment, long-term follow-up care and advice for patients with pulmonary hypertension.

We are one of eight trusts in the UK who offer this specialised service. We aim to improve the quality of life and the personal experience of our patients and their carers by using the best clinical practice.

Conditions and treatments

At Hammersmith Hospital we accept referrals of adults with pulmonary hypertension where the following diagnoses are suspected or proven:

pulmonary arterial hypertension
chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension and other pulmonary artery obstructions
pulmonary hypertension related to left heart disease or parenchymal lung disease with signs of severe pulmonary hypertension/right ventricular dysfunction
miscellaneous/uncertain causes
pulmonary hypertension where the cause is not certain

Pulmonary hypertension disease targeted therapies are offered to appropriate patients in accordance with the national commissioning policy and current evidence-based guidelines.

Patients diagnosed with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension are referred to Papworth Hospital for an opinion about their suitability for pulmonary endarterectomy surgery. Patients that may benefit from a lung transplantation are referred to Harefield or Papworth Hospital for assessment.

We conduct the following tests

six minute walk test
echocardiogram (ECG)
chest x-ray
quality of life questionnaire
screening blood tests
MRSA screening swabs

Further investigations may include

CT pulmonary angiography
ventilation perfusion scanning
cardiac magnetic resonance
selective pulmonary angiography
abdominal ultrasound
pulmonary function tests
arterial blood gases
cardiopulmonary exercise testing
cardiac catheterisation
overnight oxygen saturation monitoring

Additional information

Clinical trials and research

We offer clinical research to many of our patients. All research is approved by research ethics committees via the NHS health research authority. Patients will be provided with written information about the research and time to think.

Education

The pulmonary hypertension team at Hammersmith Hospital provide training and education about the condition for all healthcare professionals, including annual study days and an annual masterclass for physicians.