Temple is a national leader in caring for patients with pulmonary hypertension, performing more than 460 pulmonary thromboendarterectomy (PTE) surgeries to date, the highest PTE surgical volume on the East Coast. The program has also performed more than 420 balloon pulmonary angioplasty procedures (BPA). The program’s rapid growth and international prominence is due to the highly experienced and well-respected physicians and surgeons who make up Temple’s pulmonary hypertension team.
What Is Pulmonary Hypertension?
Pulmonary hypertension occurs when the blood vessels within and/or leading to the lungs become narrowed, hardened or blocked. This leads to high blood pressure and forces the right chamber of the heart, which pumps blood through the lungs, to work harder.
If left untreated, it can eventually lead to right heart failure and even death.
Internationally Recognized Pulmonary Hypertension Doctors
Paul Forfia, MD, Co-director
Dr. Forfia is recognized for his expertise in the use of echocardiographic interpretation to differentiate between arterial and non-arterial causes of PH. His innovative research in this area has broadly influenced the PH academic and clinical community across generations. This discriminating interpretation allows accurate and efficient diagnostic assessments, avoids unnecessary cardiac catheterizations, and streamlines follow-up testing and treatment. He founded the Temple PH, Right Heart Failure, and CTEPH program after serving as the Director of PH at the University of Pennsylvania.
Anjali Vaidya, MD, FACC, FASE, FACP, Co-director
Dr. Vaidya is recognized for her expertise in all forms of pulmonary hypertension and right heart failure, including refined skill in using echocardiography to assess, monitor, and offer individually tailored therapy to patients with this complex disease. A premier educator and published researcher, she has extensive training and experience in helping patients with pulmonary hypertension and right-sided heart failure, including chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) and other subtypes. Dr. Vaidya also serves as the director of the pulmonary hypertension fellowship program at Temple. She joined the Temple PH, Right Heart Failure, and CTEPH program after serving as Co-Director of PH at the University of Pennsylvania.
Estefanía Oliveros, MD, FACC
Dr. Oliveros joined the Temple Pulmonary Hypertension, Right Heart Failure, and CTEPH Program after completing her training in Advanced Heart Failure & Cardiac Transplant at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mt. Sinai in New York City. She is also trained in echocardiography and pulmonary hypertension. She is a prolific and active researcher across a broad range of cardiovascular conditions, including right ventricular support and obesity. She has also served as a local and national advocate for diversity and inclusion.
Ahmed Sadek, MD
Dr. Sadek completed extensive training with Drs. Vaidya and Forfia before joining the Temple Pulmonary Hypertension, Right Heart Failure, and CTEPH Program. Prior to his work in the Temple PH, Right-Heart Failure and CTEPH program, he completed a residency in internal medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, a cardiology fellowship at Temple University, and an advanced heart failure and cardiac transplant fellowship at the University of Michigan. His interests include echocardiography in pulmonary hypertension, right heart catheterization with invasive cardiopulmonary exercise testing, and inpatient critical care cardiology with emphasis on pulmonary hypertension, right heart failure and CTEPH.
Yoshiya Toyoda, MD, PhD
Dr. Toyoda is one of the nation’s most skilled and innovative cardiothoracic surgeons. Highly experienced in the surgical treatment of complex cardiac, pulmonary, or aortic conditions, his specialties include pulmonary thromboendarterectomy (PTE), heart and lung transplantation, mechanical circulatory support, valve repair/replacement, coronary artery bypass, and repair of adult congenital heart conditions. He has performed hundreds of PTE surgeries as part of Temple’s CTEPH Program.
Patient Experiences
Temple’s pulmonary thromboendarterectomy (PTE) program has achieved a low mortality rate – an impressive achievement considering the seriousness of pulmonary hypertension.
Thanks to PTE surgery, patients like Kevin are free of disease and living a healthier, more active life. Read Kevin's story about undergoing PTE surgery >
Why Temple Heart & Vascular Institute?
Consider the many reasons to choose Temple for treatment of pulmonary hypertension:
- One of the nation’s most experienced and skilled pulmonary hypertension medical teams
- The most active pulmonary thromboendarterectomy (PTE) program in the eastern portion of the United States
- A low mortality rate for PTE surgery
- A wide range of advanced treatment options for patients who are not eligible for PTE surgery, including balloon pulmonary angioplasty and medical therapy
- Rapid patient appointments
Learn More About CTEPH
In this video, Paul Forfia, MD, discusses the diagnosis of CTEPH and how it can be treated with PTE surgery. Dr. Forfia's discussion of PTE includes the surgical process and recovery timeline.
CTEPH is a rare form of pulmonary hypertension that can be potentially cured with PTE. Our surgeons are among the most experienced and skilled in the United States.
