Pulmonary Vascular Disease

Pulmonary vascular disease (PVD) is a broad term including any condition that affects the blood vessels within the lungs. These vessels take blood that is depleted of oxygen to the lungs from the right side of the heart. Deoxygenated blood travels through the pulmonary arteries where oxygen is taken up. The pulmonary veins leave the lungs and take blood rich with oxygen to the left side of the heart where oxygenated blood is distributed throughout the body. This process continually replenishes the blood with oxygen and less carbon dioxide being exhaled. A pulmonary vascular disorder can lead to cardiovascular problems as well as impairing the quality of the patient’s life.