A case of acute bilataral pulmonary thromboembolism successfully treated by open-heart hrombectomy

Abstract

A 57-year-old female was admitted to Chiba-nishi General Hospital complaining of exertional dyspnea. Severe hypoxemia and right ventricular dilatation were observed, which were consistent with acute pulmonary thromboembolism. Multiple large thrombi were detected in the bilateral main pulmonary arteries by angiography. Both thrombolytic therapy with urokinase and transcatheter suction maneuver were unsuccessful. An insertion of percutaneous cardiopulmonary support system (PCPS) was attempted only to fail because of peripheral vascular disease and her further deterioration, which resulted in sudden cardio-pulmonary arrest.
The patient was immediately transferred to the operating room under cardiopulmonary resuscitation, and emergency open-heart thrombectomy was successfully performed.
The postoperative recovery was uneventful and she discharged without any clinical sequellae following six weeks admission.