Operative and Perioperative Pulmonary Emboli

Intraoperative and perioperative massive pulmonary emboli remain an unusual but well-established cause of death. Improved outcomes rely on a high index of suspicion, prompt recognition, and aggressive intervention. Surgical embolectomy outcomes have improved drastically since its inception as a technique at the turn of the previous century and should be used without hesitation during an intraoperative crisis in which pulmonary embolism has been determined to be the cause. There is an emerging trend toward a more aggressive approach.