Center Description

The Yale Pulmonary Vascular Disease (PVD) Program serves as a comprehensive center for the evaluation and treatment of pulmonary hypertension, acute and chronic pulmonary embolism, and unexplained shortness of breath. The PVD program participates in groundbreaking research in pulmonary hypertension with multiple, ongoing studies. Yale New Haven Hospital (YNHH) is a 1,500-bed tertiary care center and a world class academic medical center. Located in New Haven, Connecticut, YNHH functions as the largest provider of acute care services and as the primary referral center for this region of the Northeast.

Listed below are some of the services we provide:

Office Consultation
The Yale PVD Program has providers with expertise in all areas related to pulmonary hypertension, pulmonary embolism, and advanced lung disease. During an initial visit, you may be asked to complete pulmonary function tests and in-office exercise testing as part of your evaluation. You will then see one of our providers for a visit with further tests or medications to be ordered based on their evaluation.

Right Heart Catheterization
The Yale PVD program offers right heart catheterization as part of the evaluation of pulmonary hypertension. This is the gold standard in the diagnosis of pulmonary hypertension and our providers are well-versed in all its aspects. In addition, we offer advanced hemodynamic studies, pulmonary angiograms for the evaluation of chronic thromboembolic disease, and participation in our research studies .

Advanced Cardiopulmonary Exercise Test
The advanced cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET) evaluates unexplained shortness of breath not otherwise explained by routine tests such as pulmonary function tests, echocardiogram, chest imaging, or standard exercise tests. Our advanced CPET involves exercise testing on a stationary bicycle with continuous, direct measures of intracardiac and systemic pressures using venous and arterial catheters. The Yale PVD program is currently the only center in the tri-state area to offer this test.

Pulmonary Thromboendarterectomy
The Yale PVD Program works with Prashanth Vallabhajosyula, MD to offer pulmonary thromboendarterectomy for the treatment of chronic thromboembolic disease. This is a specialized and complex surgery with limited expertise nationwide. We are the only center in Connecticut to offer this surgery.

Exercise Laryngoscopy
The Yale PVD Program, in collaboration with Nikita Kohli, MD , offers exercise laryngoscopy for the evaluation of exercise-induced laryngeal obstruction (EILO). This is a condition where inappropriate vocal cord closure occurs during exercise. Symptoms of EILO include hoarseness, stridor, and shortness of breath during exertion. Exercise laryngoscopy is performed for further evaluation of vocal cord dysfunction and associated disorders. This test combines all the features of a cardiopulmonary exercise test with real-time video assessment of the vocal cords. The PVD Program is currently the only program to offer this test.

Post Pulmonary Embolism Clinic
The Yale PVD Program specializes in the care of patients who have been diagnosed with a pulmonary embolism (PE) or suspected to have chronic PE. In some patients, a PE may cause complications to the lungs and heart leading to high blood pressure in the vessels of the lung and place strain on the heart. Symptoms include difficulty with breathing and exercise, or inability to return to normal physical activity. Post-PE conditions include a spectrum of diseases such as post-PE syndrome, chronic thromboembolic disease (CTED) or chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH). Patients are evaluated in our dedicated post-PE Clinic that offers specialized testing to help diagnose and treat post-PE conditions. For patients with CTED or CTEPH, Yale New Haven Hospital is the only hospital in Connecticut that can perform a curative surgical procedure known as pulmonary thromboendarterectomy. The post-PE Clinic is part of Yale’s Comprehensive Pulmonary Embolism Response Team which aims to improve the short and long-term outcomes in patients with PE.