RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Right heart catheterisation: best practice and pitfalls in pulmonary hypertension JF European Respiratory Review JO EUROPEAN RESPIRATORY REVIEW FD European Respiratory Society SP 642 OP 652 DO 10.1183/16000617.0062-2015 VO 24 IS 138 A1 Stephan Rosenkranz A1 Ioana R. Preston YR 2015 UL http://err.ersjournals.com/content/24/138/642.abstract AB Right heart catheterisation (RHC) plays a central role in identifying pulmonary hypertension (PH) disorders, and is required to definitively diagnose pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). Despite widespread acceptance, there is a lack of guidance regarding the best practice for performing RHC in clinical practice. In order to ensure the correct evaluation of haemodynamic parameters directly measured or calculated from RHC, attention should be drawn to standardising procedures such as the position of the pressure transducer and catheter balloon inflation volume. Measurement of pulmonary arterial wedge pressure, in particular, is vulnerable to over- or under-wedging, which can give rise to false readings. In turn, errors in RHC measurement and data interpretation can complicate the differentiation of PAH from other PH disorders and lead to misdiagnosis. In addition to diagnosis, the role of RHC in conjunction with noninvasive tests is widening rapidly to encompass monitoring of treatment response and establishing prognosis of patients diagnosed with PAH. However, further standardisation of RHC is warranted to ensure optimal use in routine clinical practice.Right heart catheterisation is required to diagnose pulmonary arterial hypertension, but standardisation is needed http://ow.ly/TI6Gr