Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a term for any condition that results in an elevation of the pressures in the vessels that carry blood through the lungs from the right side of the heart to the left side of the heart.
In pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) blood vessels in the lungs tighten and narrow causing an increase in pressure and making it more difficult for the heart to pump blood through the lungs. This can eventually lead to strain on the heart and difficulty circulating blood throughout the entire body. PAH can be a severe and progressive disease however many treatment options now exist that can dramatically alter the natural history of this disease.
The Pulmonary Hypertension program at the Vancouver General Hospital is a multi-disciplinary clinic specializing in the diagnosis and management of pulmonary vascular diseases. The PH program is composed of respirologists and cardiologists, as well as nurse practitioner/registered nurses and research coordinators. We are affiliated with both the Pacific Adult Congenital Heart Disease Clinic and the Systemic Sclerosis Clinic at St Paul’s Hospital.
Research
The BC Pulmonary Hypertension (BCPH) research program is dedicated to furthering the understanding of pulmonary hypertension. With academic and research interests, our researchers lead and participate in national and international clinical research and therapeutic trials. The BCPH program is the lead site for the National Pulmonary Hypertension Registry. This is a multicentre registry of PH patients who are evaluated and treated at expert centres across Canada. There are currently 13 registry sites across Canada serving both the adult and pediatric PH populations.
Care
The Pulmonary Hypertension (PH) program at Vancouver General Hospital provides diagnostic evaluation and consultation for those suspected of suffering from PH. We also provide ongoing care and management to those diagnosed with these diseases including initiation of therapy, monitoring for progression, and evaluating response to treatment. The pulmonary hypertension team provides both outpatient care in the PH clinic at Gordon and Leslie Diamond Health Care Centre as well as inpatient care at VGH.
TThe PH clinic at VGH is currently the primary referral centre for pulmonary hypertension in British Columbia. We welcome evaluation and management referrals from all regions of British Columbia and endeavor to provide care for patients throughout the province. We evaluate and monitor patients with PH from across the province. We are also currently the only site in BC capable of initiating advanced therapy for PAH (intravenous and subcutaneous prostenoid therapies). The PH physicians are also affiliated with the BC Lung Transplant Program and therefore assist patients with transitions to the Transplant Program when appropriate.
The physicians of the BCPH program, as part of the Canadian Cardiovascular Society/Canadian Thoracic Society Pulmonary Hypertension Committee and chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension guideline panel, have participated in the development of a framework for the care of PH in Canada with position statements on pulmonary hypertension and chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension.
Research
The BC Pulmonary Hypertension (BCPH) research program is dedicated to furthering the understanding of pulmonary hypertension. With academic and research interests, our researchers lead and participate in national and international clinical research and therapeutic trials. The BCPH program is the lead site for the National Pulmonary Hypertension Registry. This is a multicentre registry of PH patients who are evaluated and treated at expert centres across Canada. There are currently 13 registry sites across Canada serving both the adult and pediatric PH populations.
Care
The Pulmonary Hypertension (PH) program at Vancouver General Hospital provides diagnostic evaluation and consultation for those suspected of suffering from PH. We also provide ongoing care and management to those diagnosed with these diseases including initiation of therapy, monitoring for progression, and evaluating response to treatment. The pulmonary hypertension team provides both outpatient care in the PH clinic at Gordon and Leslie Diamond Health Care Centre as well as inpatient care at VGH.
TThe PH clinic at VGH is currently the primary referral centre for pulmonary hypertension in British Columbia. We welcome evaluation and management referrals from all regions of British Columbia and endeavor to provide care for patients throughout the province. We evaluate and monitor patients with PH from across the province. We are also currently the only site in BC capable of initiating advanced therapy for PAH (intravenous and subcutaneous prostenoid therapies). The PH physicians are also affiliated with the BC Lung Transplant Program and therefore assist patients with transitions to the Transplant Program when appropriate.
The physicians of the BCPH program, as part of the Canadian Cardiovascular Society/Canadian Thoracic Society Pulmonary Hypertension Committee and chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension guideline panel, have participated in the development of a framework for the care of PH in Canada with position statements on pulmonary hypertension and chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension.