Surgical pulmonary embolectomy in a community hospital

Surgical pulmonary embolectomy (SPE) is indicated for a pulmonary embolism associated with hemodynamic instability. A review of the literature demonstrates that most studies of SPE are conducted at large academic medical centers. This series is from a 325-bed community hospital.

A retrospective chart review was performed of patients undergoing SPE from January 2008 to December 2012. All patients aged >18 years were reviewed for 30-day mortality, length of hospital stay, comorbidities, and preoperative hemodynamic parameters.

Fifteen patients (7 men and 8 women; median age, 55.5 years; range, 20-72 years) underwent SPE. There were 2 deaths (13.3%). Four of the patients underwent catheter-directed interventions before SPE. The mean length of hospital stay was 12 days.

These data suggest that SPE is associated with favorable outcomes in the appropriate community setting, and the mortality rate seen in this study compares favorably with the nationwide average of 27.2%.