Pulmonary Hypertension (PH) Program

Multidisciplinary expertise

Our Pulmonary Hypertension Program brings together a team of expert doctors – including pediatric cardiologists and pulmonologists – to evaluate your child from every angle and design a treatment plan that’s right for them.

Our team uses imaging and blood tests to assess your child’s lungs, heart and other organs. These tests typically include an MRI and CT scan, and sometimes we do a VQ scan, which enables us to assess blood flow through the lungs. In some cases, we also use a state-of-the-art technique, called cardiac catheterization, to better understand how the disease is affecting your child. We can also do a sleep study to determine if your child has sleep apnea, which can cause PH.

For premature infants, we work closely with our neonatology colleagues to provide the best possible PH care tailored to the unique needs of premature infants. Children with all types of PH can receive care at the Pulmonary Hypertension Program.

State-of-the-art medications

The Pulmonary Hypertension Program gives your child access to the latest, most effective treatments. With the range of new therapies available for PH, it’s important to have a dedicated team with experience in PH and right heart failure in order to get the best outcomes. Our team has experience in all forms of PH diagnosis and management, from oral medications to IV and inhaled therapies that can be safely given at home. We use a comprehensive assessment to determine the type and severity of pulmonary hypertension, and then choose the best therapy to get your child well.

Whenever possible, we try to use newer, more effective oral medications with easier dosing schedules (once a day), fewer side effects and less need for monthly labs.

For children with more severe disease, our specialized pharmacists provide inhaled therapy options such as Tyvaso, or IV therapy such as treprostinil (Remodulin).

Ongoing care

Although there is no cure for many children with PH, today’s advanced treatments can help them live long, functional lives. We get to know you and your child and will be by your side at every step of their care.

For instance, if your child needs medications through continuous IV therapy, our nurse coordinators teach you how to do this at home and are available to you for any concerns. This keeps trips to the doctor to a minimum and makes it easier for you to lead a more typical life. Our team will also talk with school nurses and other caregivers to educate them about what each child’s care will look like and what to watch out for.

We also partner with pediatricians, cardiologists, pulmonologists and other specialists across the area so children can receive ongoing care close to home for conditions related to their PH.

For children with complications or who need hospital care, our transport team can bring them to Children’s Health so they can receive care from some of the nation’s top experts in pediatric PH, pediatric intensive care and pulmonary and cardiac care.