Pulmonary embolectomy in the management of massive pulmonary embolism

Abstract

This paper reports the Alfred Hospital experience with pulmonary embolectomy in the management of 61 patients with massive pulmonary embolism over a 26-year period. All operations were performed on cardiopulmonary bypass. Mortality was 16% in patients who had not sustained a cardiac arrest preoperatively (n=44), and 59% in those who had arrested (n=17). Pulmonary embolectomy for massive pulmonary embolism can be performed safely and may be the treatment of choice in the patient with circulatory instability. In the patient who has sustained a cardiac arrest from pulmonary embolism, embolectomy offers the only hope in a desperate situation.