Playford on Pulmonary Hypertension

Pulmonary hypertension and its diagnosis via echocardiography are discussed, emphasizing the importance of identifying the underlying cause rather than just the presence of elevated pressures. The lecture highlights that even mild pulmonary hypertension is associated with increased risk, and accurate ECHO estimation can be challenging, often necessitating a right heart catheter for definitive diagnosis. Left heart disease is identified as the most common cause of pulmonary hypertension, requiring a focus on treating the underlying cardiac condition rather than directly targeting pulmonary arteries. The consequences of pulmonary hypertension on the right heart are explored, including the use of 3D ECHO for assessing right ventricular shape and function.