Abstract
Development of clinical interest on the pulmonary hypertension is associated with the development of cardiac catheterization. The first measurement of cardiac output during right heart catheterization was performed by Otto Klein, who worked at the German University in Prague right after Forssmann's pioneering act.
The invention of the floating balloon catheter is connected with the name of William Ganz, who was born in Košice and studied medicine in Prague. Some medical centres in Prague, known as Prague School of Pulmonary Circulation have dedicated to the issue of pulmonary hypertension since the 60s of last century.
From their initiative was established the European Society of Breathing Pathophysiology and between the year 1969 and 1999 were regularly held in Prague international conferences dedicated to pulmonary circulation. In clinical practice has dominated interest on treatable forms of chronic pulmonary hypertension - pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) and chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) in past 15 years.
Therapy of PAH patients is concentrated in 3 specialized centres in the Czech Republic. The care of CTEPH patients is provided in Cardiocentre of General Faculty Hospital in Prague.
Surgical treatment is provided to Slovak patients as well.