Balloon pulmonary angioplasty for chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension: Evaluation of haemodynamic effects, complication rates and radiation exposure over time.

BACKGROUND

In patients undergoing balloon pulmonary angioplasty (BPA) for inoperable chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH), single-centre series from expert centres have recognized a learning curve for the magnitude of haemodynamic benefits.

OBJECTIVE

To report our 7-year experience with BPA, focusing on haemodynamic effects, complication rates and radiation exposure over time.

METHODS

Patients with CTEPH who were treated with BPA between May 2013 and February 2020 were analysed during the 'initial period' versus the 'recent period' (split date: March 2017).

RESULTS

Among 192 patients who underwent at least one BPA procedure, 156 were included in the safety/radiation analysis and 119 were included in the efficacy analysis. During the 'recent period' versus the 'initial period', the median [interquartile range] number of procedures per patient was higher (4.5 [4.0-6.0] vs. 4.0 [3.0-4.0]; P=0.03), as was the number of dilated vessels per procedure (4.0 [3.5-5.0] vs. 3.5 [3.0-4.0]; P=0.002). Changes in haemodynamic parameters were also greater (mean pulmonary artery pressure: -22% [-31% to -14%] vs. -37% [-44% to -29%]; P=0.001; pulmonary vascular resistance: -38% [-51% to -8%] vs. -53% [-69% to -33%]; P=0.002); complication rates were similar (5.7% vs. 9.3% of procedures; P=0.38); and radiation exposure was lower (effective dose per patient: 43.9 [31.6-66.5] vs. 67.8 [47.9-101.9] mSv; P<0.001).

CONCLUSION

Our analysis is consistent with a learning curve for the magnitude of haemodynamic improvements. The complication rate was low and did not change over time, but radiation exposure decreased.