New Center Delivers Diagnosis for Unexplained Dyspnea
Led by pulmonologist Aaron B. Waxman, MD, PhD, and cardiologist Daniel E. Forman, MD, the new Dyspnea Center at BWH provides innovative evaluation to determine the cause of dyspnea – a common symptom that often eludes definitive diagnosis.
Comprised of a team of specialists in pulmonary medicine, cardiovascular medicine, neurology and cardiovascular imaging, the center strives to greatly reduce work-up time and speed diagnosis for patients with unexplained dyspnea. The team is among few in the nation to offer highly specialized cardiopulmonary exercise testing designed to pinpoint the source of dyspnea and exercise limitation. Advanced Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing at BWH is performed after placement of a right heart catheter and a radial arterial line to evaluate heart and lung hemodynamics and assess how the patient is utilizing oxygen.
“The information gleaned from this testing far outweighs other available technology,” said Aaron B. Waxman, MD, PhD, director of the Dyspnea Center. “In nearly all cases, we are able to identify the underlying cause of dyspnea and contributing factors.”
Other specialists in the center include pulmonologists Barbara A. Cockrill, MD, Bartolome R. Celli, MD, Miguel Divo, MD, and Anne L. Fuhlbrigge, MD, neurologist Thomas I. Cochrane, MD, and Victor Gerbaudo, PhD, director of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging.
Once a diagnosis is made, results are reported back to the patient’s referring physician. The team also makes recommendations for treatment and referral to other specialists, if needed or desired.
For more information, or to refer a patient, call 617-732-9894 or e-mail bwhteleservices@partners.org