Pulmonary hypertension: Key aspects in preoperative management

Pulmonary hypertension, characterized by increased pressure in the pulmonary vasculature, can stem from various causes. This condition strains the thin-walled right ventricle of the heart, leading to potential dilation and reduced function over time. Anesthesiologists encounter challenges when managing PH patients during surgery, as the right ventricle poorly responds to inotropic support and undergoes additional stress from surgical conditions. Pulmonary hypertension requires multidisciplinary management in the perioperative setting to ensure appropriate and safe care of patients.

Ensuring safe anesthesia for patients with pulmonary hypertension entails careful planning, including a thorough history and physical examination, preoperative testing, optimization of the disease and comorbidities, and comprehensive risk assessment. It is crucial to identify signs and symptoms of progressing pulmonary hypertension and right heart dysfunction. Symptomatic patients with undiagnosed pulmonary hypertension will benefit from referrals to specialists for further evaluation and testing.

Diagnostic tools such as electrocardiograms, echocardiography, and right heart catheterization offer valuable information for anesthetic planning and risk assessment. They provide insight into the severity of pulmonary hypertension. Right heart catheterization allows direct measurement of hemodynamic parameters, guiding treatment decisions. Hemodynamic classification distinguishes between pre-capillary, post-capillary, and combined pre- and post-capillary pulmonary hypertension. Another categorization method is clinical grouping based on underlying pathological characteristics, which helps tailor management and treatment choices.

This article underscores the significance of perioperative management and the need for a comprehensive evaluation and multidisciplinary approach in patients with pulmonary hypertension. It provides valuable information for anesthesiologists and other healthcare professionals involved in the care of these patients, with a focus on preoperative assessment, risk stratification, and treatment considerations.