Maine Medical Center

Pulmonary Hypertension

Pulmonary hypertension is a disease characterized by an abnormally high blood pressure in the lungs. Patients generally have exercise intolerance, which may be associated with progressive shortness of breath, fatigue, palpitations, lightheaded spells, chest discomfort, or ankle swelling.

Services

The Maine Medical Center pulmonary hypertension program is devoted to providing thorough evaluation, treatment, and follow-up for all patients with pulmonary hypertension. Patients may be seen and evaluated on an inpatient basis at the Portland campus of Maine Medical Center or as an outpatient at Chest Medicine Associates. Diagnostic services offered include:

  • Pulmonolgy, cardiology, rheumatology, endocrinology and hepatology consultation
  • Echocardiography (transthoracic and transesophageal)
  • Ventilation-perfusion lung scanning
  • Pulmonary function testing including oxygen assessments
  • Sleep testing
  • Cardiopulmonary exercise testing
  • Pulmonary angiography
  • Chest computed tomography scanning
  • Heart catheterization for direct hemodynamic / vasodilator assessments

Care is coordinated with the referring primary physician. Many treatments are highly complex and require patient education and ongoing follow-up with subspecialty physicians, pulmonary hypertension clinical care coordinators and nurse specialists. 

Therapies such as continuous parenteral prostanoid therapy, high-dose calcium channel blocker therapy, PAH specific medications, anticoagulation therapy, home oxygen therapy, etc., are provided and coordinated for patients as needed. When appropriate, referrals are made for physical/occupational therapy, home health care, surgery and transplantation services. 

Contact Us

Outpatient Referrals & Appointments

Phone: 207-828-1122
Fax: 207-828-0188

Inpatient Referrals & Hospital-to-Hospital Transfers

Phone: 207-662- 6632
Fax: 207-662-4691