Pulmonary Hypertension Program

As a PHA-accredited Pulmonary Hypertension Center of Comprehensive Care, patients at Riley Children’s receive exceptional care through a fully integrated partnership between the divisions of pediatric pulmonology and pediatric cardiology. Recognized for our commitment to provide a better approach to the life-threatening pulmonary hypertension disease, our team will collaborate to discuss each patient in detail, creating the most effective and diagnostic treatment plan for your child.

Pulmonary hypertension, a chronic condition, narrows and stiffens the artery walls of the lungs, which makes the right side of the heart work harder. The extra stress enlarges the heart, making it less flexible and decreasing its ability to pump blood to the rest of the body.

In the Pulmonary Hypertension Program at Riley Children's, our multidisciplinary team will evaluate your child’s unique cardiopulmonary physiology. Our dedicated nurse coordinator will meet and interview your family at your first appointment, help with scheduling, provide educational materials and coordinate care if your child is in the hospital.

After a thorough evaluation, we will work with your child’s primary care doctor to develop a personalized treatment plan and follow-up program that meet your child’s specific needs. Depending on your child’s condition, cardiovascular surgery may also be necessary to repair congenital heart conditions.

Although there is no cure for pulmonary hypertension, our team can manage your child’s condition through adolescence and early adulthood using oral, inhaled, intravenous or subcutaneous medicines. We also help with the transition from pediatric care to adult care with providers at Indiana University Health who specialize in adult pulmonary hypertension.