Surgical embolectomy in the management of massive and sub-massive pulmonary embolism: the results of 30 consecutive ill patients

Despite the improvement in the diagnosis and treatment of acute pulmonary embolism, it is yet a common clinical problem. The actual role of open embolectomy has not been well understood. The present report aimed to extrapolate the outcome of early open pulmonary embolectomy in a number of patients with acute (sub) massive pulmonary embolism (AMPE/ASMPE). A prospective study was performed on 30 patients who underwent emergency embolectomy at Ghaem Hospital, Mashhad, Iran during January 2005 to November 2012. All patients with an indication for pulmonary embolectomy according to recent American Heart Association guideline were enrolled in this study. Echocardiographic features, pulmonary artery pressure, and right ventricular (RV) diameter were recorded. The patients were followed up monthly by two cardiologists. Indications for operation in descending order consisted of contraindication for fibrinolytic therapy (30%), failure to respond to fibrinolysis (26.66%), cardiopulmonary arrest (20%), patent foramen ovale (20%), right atrium clot (10%), and cardiogenic shock (10%). Mean pulmonary artery pressures were 52.26 ± 6.54 and 29.43 ± 2.87 mmHg before and after the operation, respectively (P < 0.0001). RV function and diameter improved significantly after surgery (P < 0.0001 and <0.0001, respectively). Complete follow-up was performed in all surviving patients. All patients survived the operation, except one who died 2 days after surgery due to profound hypotension. Short and long-term outcomes of early open embolectomy seemed to be satisfactory in high-risk patients presenting high clot burden in central pulmonary arteries. This study demonstrated that pulmonary embolectomy may play a promising role in the management of AMPE and ASMPE and recommended for future clinical trials.