Abstract
We describe a case where a thrombus was effectively removed with a 20 Fr argyle® thoracic catheter (Nippon Sherwood Medical Industries Ltd.) and the life of the patient was saved by thrombectory for an acute pulmonary thromboembolism. The patient was a 43-year-old woman. Emergency operation was indicated by a severe acute pulmonary thromboembolism and intracardiac floating thrombi afte an orthopedic surgery. A 20 Fr thoracic catheter connected to a cleaning type intraoperative blood salvage device was used to remove thrombi in a pulmonary artery and a good result was obtained. The advantages of this catheter include: 1) suitable hardness; 2) a protective round tip; 3) an aperture at the tip for the suction of small or crushabe thrombi and the removal of thrombi having a certain level of hardness with the shape intact; and 4) adjustable flexion of the catheter to easily detect a peripheral pulmonary artery. However, care should be taken when using the catheter to avoid damage to pulmonary artery walls.
