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Published on: October 25, 2024
Percutaneous suction thrombectomy of large tumor thrombus causing massive pulmonary embolism
Zachary S Pallister1, Miguel Montero-Baker1, Joseph L Mills1
1Division of Vascular Surgery and Endovascular Therapy, Michael E. DeBakey Department of Surgery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Tex.
Abstract:
We describe a patient who underwent a renal cell carcinoma resection with inferior vena cava thrombectomy complicated by tumor embolization. This resulted in massive pulmonary embolism requiring venous-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. The patient was ineligible for systemic or catheter-directed thrombolysis because of the recent surgical resection and postoperative hemorrhage. Hence, the patient underwent percutaneous suction thrombectomy with successful removal of the tumor thrombus and significant clinical improvement. This report represents a unique case of suction thrombectomy for the removal of tumor embolus from the pulmonary circulation and highlights the ability of suction thrombectomy in the management of massive pulmonary embolism.
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