Submitted by Dr T on July 19, 2011 – 8:24am
Right heart catheterization is a diagnostic tool for evaluation of pulmonary hypertension. Other tests should include various types of lung scans. I have blogged about this several times:
https://www.cardiachealth.org/ca-blog/pulmonary-hypertension-is-it-dang
https://www.cardiachealth.org/ca-blog/i-had-an-echocardiogram-that-show
In your wife’s case, there are probably other reasons why her heart is so enlarged. One cause might include previous PE’s, blood clots to her lungs. Whatever the cause, her condition will eventually lead to heart failure:
https://www.cardiachealth.org/heart-information/heart-failure
Eventually, pateints like her may need a heart (lung) transplantation.
Hope this helps,
Dr T
https://www.cardiachealth.org/