Lung disease procedure to be routinely available

NHS England is funding a pioneering procedure for patients who suffer from Chronic Thromboembolic Pulmonary Hypertension (CTEPH) so that it can be routinely available on the NHS.

CTEPH, which is a form of lung disease where chronic blood clots block blood flow in the arteries, raising pressure in the lung which can cause heart failure and premature death, often stops patients from working with the condition tending to leave patients needing to take oxygen all the time just to remain comfortable when resting but some people are not suitable for existing forms of surgery.

The new, ‘life-changing’ procedure, which will be run at the Royal Papworth Hospital, uses tiny balloons to inflate and compress blockages in the blood vessels before being deflated and removed. This can be repeated several times in different parts of the lung during a single treatment session.

James Palmer, Medical Director for specialised commissioning for NHS England, said: “Patients living with life changing conditions have to cope with really quite severe symptoms, where even small movements can leave people gasping for breath. As the NHS approaches its 70th anniversary, this intervention, available for patients across the country, is another fantastic example of the innovations the health service adopts each year to enable clinicians to deliver the best possible outcomes for their patients.”