Postoperative management of the patient undergoing pulmonary thromboendarterectomy.

The postoperative course of the patient undergoing pulmonary thromboendarterectomy poses a unique series of challenges in terms of ventilatory care and hemodynamic management. Experience, cooperation, and interaction are necessary among the various disciplines providing care for these patients during the preoperative, operative, and postoperative phases of care. The purpose of this article is to share the approach necessary for the optimal postoperative care of the patient undergoing thromboendarterectomy, to present the theoretical justification for this care, and to delineate the areas of uncertainty that still exist.