Modified surgical concept for fulminant pulmonary embolism

Surgical intervention in fulminant pulmonary embolism (PE) is still associated with an overall 30% fatal outcome which increases to about 60% when cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is necessary. Despite unfavorable conditions like hemodynamic instability, failed lysis or CPR, the surgical strategy might have a certain impact on the patient's outcome since 30-40% of the surgical mortality is related to persistent right heart failure and early thromboembolic recurrence. From 1/88 to 8/94 a total of 25 patients (15 females, 10 men, mean age 57 [25-78]) years underwent emergency pulmonary embolectomy with the use of the heart-lung machine. Seventeen patients were operated upon between 1988 and 1992. A standard approach by central pulmonary artery incision with extraction of adjacent pulmonary emboli using forceps, suction of Fogarty catheters was used. Six of these patients (35%) died, with four out of six operated upon under CPR. Since 1993 we have used a modified surgical strategy in eight patients. Five patients (63%) were operated on after or under CPR. In these cases, left and right pulmonary arteries were incised peripherally and all segmental arteries were desobliterated selectively using small suction devices. Thereafter the right atrium was opened and inspected. After removal of the inferior caval vein cannula all inferior body blood was taken with cardiotomy suction while both legs and the abdomen were massaged centripetally to mobilize additional fresh thrombotic material. In three cases up to 50 cm long thrombi could be delivered. All patients have survived to date with two patients receiving a LGM caval filter placed percutaneously after bilateral postoperative phlebography had revealed ongoing thrombotic disease. We conclude that selective desobliteration of every segmental pulmonary artery in combination with simultaneous clearance of major body veins from additional thrombotic material will probably lower surgical mortality in these critically ill patients.