Lung Disease
Treatments & Diseases
Pulmonary Hypertension Treatments
Both diagnosis and treatment of pulmonary hypertension (PH) has expanded rapidly over the past two decades, and the disease often responds well to newer medical therapies. PH is a challenging disease that is easily misdiagnosed in the community. We are confident we can provide an accurate diagnosis and the most appropriate treatment plan for your PH, regardless of the cause. We are one of only a few centers able to offer the complete spectrum of available therapies, including oral, continuous IV/SQ prostanoid infusion therapy, and inhaled prostanoid therapy, and our team is experienced in managing the side effects and complications of these therapies. In addition, we are one of only a few centers in the Atlanta area actively enrolling patients in clinical research trials for new and existing PH therapies. There is an active research department at Emory University investigating the root causes of PH as well, led by Dr. Michael C. Hart.
Diagnostics
- Right Heart Catheterization - Both Drs. Fisher and Quintero have completed a one year fellowship with intensive training in performing and interpreting right heart catheterizations. Accurate results and interpretation of this test are integral to obtaining the correct diagnosis and guiding decisions for therapy.
- Advanced Echocardiography - Our Echocardiography technologists have experience in imaging the right side of the heart and great vessels, and assessing right ventricular function. This diagnostic modality in essential in pulmonary hypertension diagnosis and staging.
- Pulmonary Angiography
- Computerized Tomography (CT Scans)
- VQ Scanning
- Pulmonary Function Testing
- Thoracentesis, both therapeutic and diagnostic
Therapies
Our staff is experienced in obtaining prior authorizations for medications, enrollment in patient assistance programs, arranging home oxygen equipment, and many other common needs in the PH patient population. We rarely have difficulty getting these medications to patients that need them:
- IV Prostanoid Therapy (Flolan, Remodulin™, Veletri™)
- Subcutaneous Prostanoid Therapy (SQ Remodulin™)
- Inhaled Prostanoid Therapies (Tyvaso™)
- Endothelin Receptor Antagonists (Tracleer™, Letairis™)
- PDE-5 Inhibitors (Revatio, Adcirca™)
- Enrollment in Clinical Trials for New PAH Therapies
- Hickman Catheter Placement - in conjunction with Surgical Oncology or Interventional Radiology (IR) referral
- Percutaneous Indwelling Central Catheter Placement (PICC line) - in conjunction with IR referral
- Therapeutic Paracentesis
- Referral to University of California San Diego for Pulmonary Thromboendarterectomy - for CTEPH patients
- Referral to Sleep Center - for treatment of Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome
- Volume and Blood Pressure Management