SUCCESSFUL PALLIATION OF PRIMARY PULMONARY-HYPERTENSION BY ATRIAL SEPTOSTOMY

Primary pulmonary hypertension is an idiopathic disease characterized by a progressive increase in pulmonary vascular resistance with consequent pulmonary hypertension, right ventricular failure and death.1 Several series have suggested that the findings of right ventricular failure manifested by high right ventricular filling pressures and decreased cardiac output imply a poor prognosis with death in less than a year.2,3 We describe a patient who had rapidly progressive primary pulmonary hypertension and hemodynamic parameters suggestive of a poor prognosis who underwent successful atrial septostomy with marked clinical improvement. © 1990.