[Indications for operative intervention in acute and acute recurring lung embolism]

From 1973 to 1983 10 patients suffering from pulmonary embolism were seen at our clinic. All 10 underwent cardiopulmonary bypass and embolectomy of the pulmonary truncus and its branches including exploration of the right heart. 6 patients survived. The embolectomy of the pulmonary artery was supplemented by clipping the inferior vena cava. In chronic recurrent pulmonary embolism we only performed the clipping procedure of the inferior vena cava.