Chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) is a progressive pulmonary vascular disorder, classified as group 4 pulmonary hypertension (PH) in the European Society of Cardiology (ESC)/European Respiratory Society (ERS) guidelines. The disease is usually a result of one or more episodes of pulmonary embolism and has been reported to occur in 0.6–4.4% of patients who have had a pulmonary embolism. CTEPH is characterised by macroscopic thromboembolic lesions within proximal or distal pulmonary arteries and microscopic pulmonary vasculopathy. The clinical consequences of these pathological changes, which can include intimal thickening, vascular remodelling and plexiform lesions, are elevated pulmonary vascular pressures and increased pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR), which can lead to right heart failure and death.
This talk will provide an overview on current treatment strategies for the management of CTEPH both medical and surgical with a look into what the future holds.