The Duke Chronic Thromboembolic Pulmonary Hypertension Program provides focused care for the subset of patients whose pulmonary embolism (blood clot in the lung) never resolves and who may go on to develop pulmonary hypertension (high blood pressure of the lungs), a chronic disease that leads to right heart failure.

Chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) -- with or without symptoms -- may be present in this patient group, and Duke is one of only a few medical centers in the nation to offer the highly specialized pulmonary thromboendarterectomy as a potential treatment option.

Pulmonary thromboendarterectomy is a surgical procedure that removes blood clots from the lungs. This can dramatically reduce symptoms by decreasing the blood pressure and strain on the heart.

Diagnosis

CTEPH is often mistaken for and treated as common pulmonary hypertension, but our team members are experts at recognizing this uncommon disease.

We offer comprehensive evaluation and testing of CTEPH, and, once a diagnosis has been confirmed, we work with each patient to develop an individualized treatment plan.

Treatment

The Duke CTEPH Program offers the specialized care required to treat patients with CTEPH. Our multidisciplinary team of experts offers the following treatment options:

• Anticoagulation
• Inferior vena cava (IVC) filter placement to prevent the clot or future clots from embolizing to the lung
• Pulmonary hypertension treatment
• Pulmonary thromboendarterectomy

Team Approach to Care

Care for patients with CTEPH requires a distinct multi-faceted approach. Duke’s CTEPH Program is leading the way with an interdisciplinary team of pulmonologists specializing in pulmonary hypertension, thoracic surgeons, interventional radiologists, nurses, therapists, and pharmacists.

Duke also collaborates with fellow CTEPH specialists in leading U.S. and international centers and pursues research in an extensive world-class program.

Appointments

Please call 888-ASK-DUKE (888-275-3853) to make an appointment with a physician in our program. Your initial appointment must be made with Victor Tapson, MD.

Physicians

Physicians offering this service include:

• Davis, R. Duane
  • Surgery / Cardiovascular & Thoracic
• Tapson, Victor F.
  • Medicine / Medicine-Pulmonary

Locations

This service is available at:

• Duke Pulmonary Medicine and Renal
  Duke Clinic 2F/2G, 40 Duke Medicine Circle, Durham, NC 27710