Evaluation and management of pulmonary hypertension in infants with bronchopulmonary dysplasia

PH: pulmonary hypertension; PMA: postmenstrual age; PaCO₂: partial pressure of carbon dioxide; BPD: bronchopulmonary dysplasia; sPAP: systolic pulmonary artery pressure; sBP: systolic blood pressure; O₂: oxygen.
* Practice varies regarding whether to perform echocardiographic screening for infants with mild BPD (eg, breathing room air by 36 weeks PMA).
¶ sPAP can be estimated using tricuspid regurgitant jet velocity in combination with other echocardiographic findings. The systemic sBP is measured at the same time to allow for comparison.
Δ Comorbidities that may contribute to PH disease include hypoxemia, aspiration, or structural heart disease.
◊ Cardiac catheterization prior to the initiation of long-term therapy is encouraged, but the risks and benefits of this procedure depend on local expertise with the procedure and severity of disease.^[1]
§ Comorbidites that may be diagnosed at catheterization include pulmonary vein stenosis, left ventricular diastolic dysfunction, shunts, or collateral vessels.