HYBRID EVENT: You can participate in person at London, UK or Virtually from your home or work.

6th Edition of Global Conference on Surgery and Anaesthesia

September 15-17, 2025 | Hybrid Event

September 15 -17, 2025 | London, UK
GCSA 2023

Pulmonary hypertention in the non-cardiac surgery patient

Bessie Kachulis, Speaker at Surgery Conferences
Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center, United States
Title : Pulmonary hypertention in the non-cardiac surgery patient

Abstract:

Pulmonary Hypertension is a high-risk condition and is associated with high perioperative morbidity and mortality.  As modern medical treatments have helped improve overall survival rates, more patients with pulmonary hypertension present for surgery.

Taking care of patients with pulmonary hypertension in the perioperative period can be challenging. It is important a multidisciplinary team with knowledge in this topic is involved in the care of such patients. Optimal care starts in the preoperative period, where the patient’s condition is optimized, eliminating additional risk factors.

Although there is no recommended anesthesia technique that is associated with better outcomes, high vigilance and expertise are required.  Invasive monitoring such as arterial line and pulmonary catheter placement may be needed, depending on the surgical procedural risk and the patient’s condition.  In more severe situations cardiac monitoring using transesophageal  echocardiography may be necessary.  Appropriately interpreted information helps to timely recognize changes and manage treatment.

Similarly, high vigilance should be exercised in the postoperative care period and the patient should be managed in the appropriate level of care area.

In conclusion, taking care of patients with pulmonary hypertension requires a multidisciplinary team and a facility with appropriate resources.

Audience Take Away Notes:

  • Pathophysiology of the different types of pulmonary hypertension and how to recognize them
  • Medications used to treat pulmonary hypertension
  • Anesthetics management of patients with pulmonary hypertension
  • Literature on intraoperative management of pulmonary hypertension

Biography:

Dr. Kachulis completed her training in anesthesiology and her cardiothoracic anesthesia fellowship at Columbia University Medical Center. After her training, she joined the faculty of Cardiothoracic Anesthesia division at Columbia where she became an Associate Professor of Anesthesiology and served as Director of Thoracic Anesthesia. She has extensive experience in taking care of patients with pulmonary hypertension undergoing lung transplantation, cardiac and pulmonary thromboendarterectiomy surgeries. Currently she serves as the Director of Evidence-Based Medicine in the Division of Cardiothoracic Anesthesiology  at Columbia University Medical Center.

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