Evaluation of the Results of Balloon Pulmonary Angioplasty in Patients with Chronic Distal Pulmonary Thromboembolic Disease and Pulmonary Hypertension
Authors: Hanumantha Reddy M. , Cherian George , Raghuraman Bagirath 
Published: October 2021

Introduction The gold standard curative treatment for chronic pulmonary thromboembolic disease and pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) is pulmonary thromboendarterectomy (PTE). Balloon pulmonary angioplasty (BPA) is emerging for distal CTEPH patients, where lesion is inaccessible for surgery. This is the first study conducted in Indian patients for evaluating the impact of BPA in patients with distal CTEPH.

Aims and Objectives To evaluate the effect of BPA in patients with distal CTEPH with the help of New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional class and 6-minute walk distance (6MWD). To study decrease in pulmonary artery pressure and improvement in right atrial and right ventricular function with the help of echocardiography.

Material and Methods Study population—CTEPH patients presenting to the hospital during the study interval of 16 months from January 2017 to April 2018. A. Method: This was an observational retrospective and prospective follow-up study. All distal CTEPH patients after meeting inclusion and exclusion criteria were taken for study. B. Detailed case records containing information on demographics, clinical features and necessary blood and imaging investigations, ventilation/perfusion (V/Q) scan, computed tomography pulmonary angiography (CTPA), right heart catheterization (RHC) study, pulmonary angiogram, and BPA procedure details were obtained for all participants. C. After 8 weeks of last BPA session, patients were assessed clinically and then 6-minute walk test, blood investigations and echocardiography were done.

Data Analysis Statistical analysis was performed by using the software SPSS 22.0 version. We used paired t-test to test the significant difference in the mean pre- and post-BPA. p-value < 0.05 will be considered as statistically significant.

Results In our study, mean age of presentation was 39.81 ± 12 years. Out of 11 patients, 5 were females and 6 were males. Mean duration of symptoms was 40.5 months. The total number of BPA sessions performed were 30. The minimum number of BPA sessions undergone was 1 and maximum number of BPA sessions undergone by one patient was 5, with 45% of patients undergoing 2 BPA sessions. The total number of segmental arteries dilated was 104. Segmental vessels dilated per each session was 3.46. There was statistically significant improvement in NYHA class and 6MWD after BPA. 6MWD increased from 299 m to 421 m (p-value < 0.001). This improvement in functional capacity is strongly associated with the improvement in right ventricular (RV) function (tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion [TAPSE] from 15.3 mm to 18.9 mm) and with the reduction in pulmonary artery systemic pressure (PASP) (from 92 mm Hg to 60 mm Hg).

Conclusion In patients with distal CTEPH who undergo BPA, there was statistically significant improvement in 6MWD. These changes correspond to a treatment-induced reduction in pulmonary artery pressure and lend support to use of BPA in patients with distal CTEPH. ECHO and 6MWD can be used for evaluating BPA efficacy and monitoring disease progression.