Right Heart Catheterization for the Diagnosis of Pulmonary Hypertension

Right heart catheterization (RHC) is the gold standard for the diagnosis and classification of pulmonary hypertension. Significant expertise is required for safely performing a full RHC and for the acquisition of reliable and reproducible information. Physicians performing an RHC should have adequate training not only in vascular access, catheter insertion, and manipulation but also in the interpretation of waveforms, potential pitfalls, and strict quality control. This article describes the essential technical aspects of RHC as applied to the pulmonary circulation, the potential pitfalls, and areas of major controversy.