Pulmonary Hypertension
The University of Oklahoma Pulmonary Hypertension Program (OU-PH) provides comprehensive care for patients with pulmonary hypertension in the state of Oklahoma. OU-PH is a multidisciplinary team of physicians and advanced practice providers with expertise in pulmonary vascular disease, interstitial lung disease, advanced heart failure, interventional cardiology, congenital heart disease, cardiac imaging, rheumatology, thoracic radiology, interventional radiology, among others. OU-PH specializes in deep characterization of right ventricular physiology, cardio-pulmonary response to exercise and early assessment of pulmonary vascular disorders.
The evaluation of patients with suspected pulmonary vascular disease requires a comprehensive evaluation that includes cardiac imaging and thoracic radiology, as well as hemodynamic evaluation at rest and during exercise for phenotypic characterization of the underlying pulmonary vascular disorder. Exercise evaluation includes the performance of non-invasive cardio-pulmonary exercise studies, as well as hemodynamic assessment with a supine bicycle ergometer challenge. Pulmonary wedge angiograms and cytology are performed in selected cases. Once a proper phenotype is identified, patients are started in state-of-the art therapeutics and additional supportive care.
The educational objective of OU-PH is to train clinicians with an interest in pulmonary vascular disease on providing optimal care to individuals affected with these syndromes, aiming for early diagnosis and early initiation of therapeutic modalities. Trainees gain experience in interpretation of hemodynamic studies, cardio-pulmonary exercise tests, advanced echocardiography and thoracic radiology. Trainees also spend time in the hemodynamic laboratory performing right heart catheterizations and hemodynamic challenge studies. Specific lectures are provided throughout the clinical year by national experts in the field. Different research opportunities at OU-PH are available to interested trainees.