Interv Akut Kardiol 2012; 11(3-4): 158-160

Surgical embolectomy in massive embolization to the pulmonary artery

Tomáš Skála¹, Martin Hutyra¹, Marek Gwozdziewicz², Miloš Táborský¹

¹ 1. interní klinika &ndash, kardiologická LF UP a FN Olomouc

² Kardiochirurgická klinika LF UP a FN Olomouc

In the absence of a rapid diagnosis and aggressive treatment, acute embolization to the pulmonary artery is often fatal. Due to its high

mortality rates reported to be around 40%, surgical embolectomy was virtually used in the long term only in patients in extremely poor

condition in whom medication therapy had failed. As experience increases, surgical embolectomy becomes an increasingly safe method

that can be performed with a low mortality rate and, compared to conservative medication therapy, with lower rates of haemorrhagic events

and recurrence of pulmonary embolization. Recently, many authors have advocated the use of surgical embolectomy in centrally localized

embolism to the pulmonary artery in haemodynamically unstable patients. The present case shows that embolectomy can be chosen even

in elderly patients in whom preoperative cardiopulmonary resuscitation is required. This method should no longer be reserved only for

patients with massive embolization to the pulmonary artery in cardiogenic shock in whom all the other options have failed.

Keywords: surgical embolectomy, thrombolysis, massive embolization to the pulmonary artery, right atrial thrombus

Published: May 11, 2012  Show citation