Hospital launches clinic for pulmonary hypertension

Kauvery Hospital launches Pulmonary Hypertension clinic for comprehensive care, early diagnosis, and multidisciplinary treatment approach.

Kauvery Hospital, Vadapalani, has launched a first-of-its-kind Pulmonary Hypertension (PH) clinic under its Department of Cardiology.

It is designed to offer comprehensive care, including medical, interventional and surgical evaluation and treatment, and follow-up for patients affected by PH.

PH is a serious yet frequently underdiagnosed condition, particularly in children and high-risk adults. P. Manokar, Senior Interventional Cardiologist and Clinical Lead for the Heart Failure and Transplant Programme, described it as the “neglected cousin” of systemic hypertension. “It is a debilitating disease. Some patients can barely walk ten steps without severe breathlessness. In advanced stages, both the quality and duration of life are significantly reduced. For those with idiopathic PH, survival beyond two years can be challenging,” he said.

At the launch, Anbarasu Mohanraj, Clinical Lead and Senior Consultant, Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery at the hospital, who is spearheading the clinic, stressed the importance of early diagnosis and coordinated care.

“The incidence of PH has not necessarily increased, but our ability to diagnose it has improved significantly over the last two decades. If left untreated, PH can lead to worsening heart function. This clinic adopts a multidisciplinary approach to ensure that every aspect of the patient’s condition is addressed,” he said. Recently, three patients aged between 26 and 72, including a Central government employee and an international official, underwent successful Pulmonary Thromboendarterectomy surgeries at Kauvery Hospital within ten days, he added.

The clinic will also treat rare conditions such as Chronic Thromboembolic Pulmonary Hypertension — a form of PH caused by long-standing blood clots in the pulmonary arteries.