Acute and Chronic Pulmonary Embolism

Surgical pulmonary embolectomy and pulmonary thromboendarterectomy are well-established treatment strategies for patients with acute and chronic pulmonary embolism, respectively. Patients with acute pulmonary embolism are at risk of cardiovascular collapse due to right ventricular failure and shock. While the vast majority of patients respond to cardiorespiratory stabilization and aggressive anticoagulation, in patients with massive proximal emboli, surgical embolectomy can be life-saving and rapidly restore cardiac function. For patients with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension, pulmonary thromboendarterectomy results in excellent long-term patient outcomes and can eliminate the pulmonary hypertension.