Chronic Pulmonary Thromboembolism―Sex Difference and Surgical Results―

Abstract

The etiology of chronic pulmonary thromboembolism remains unknown. In this report, we tried to clarify sex difference. Methods: we compared 8 men with 19 women, underwent thromboendarterectomy (TEA) under cardiopulmonary bypass with deep hypothermia and intermittent circulatory arrest. Results: 1) The coagulation abnormalities were present in female patients more than male, but the incidence of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) between female and male was not significant. 2) According to the typing on CT scan, 4 patients were classified as peripheral type. All of these 4 patients were female. Conclusion: Surgical treatment has improved the prognosis of selected patients with pulmonary thromboembolism. In female patients, other etiology except for DVT seems to be present.