OBJECTIVE: We determined the efficacy of surgery for acute pulmonary thromboembolism with a floating right-heart thrombus. METHODS AND RESULTS: Thrombi were diagnosed by transthoracic echocardiography and electron beam computed tomography in 4 patients with acute pulmonary thromboembolism with a floating right-heart thrombus, and thromboembolectomy was done in all patients. Surgical procedure included intermittent deep hypothermic circulatory arrest. One patient died of endobronchial hemorrhage and 3 survived. CONCLUSION: Because acute pulmonary thromboembolism with a right-heart thrombus is life-threatening, immediate thromboembolectomy is required to decrease mortality.
OBJECTIVE: We determined the efficacy of surgery for acute pulmonary thromboembolism with a floating right-heart thrombus. METHODS AND RESULTS: Thrombi were diagnosed by transthoracic echocardiography and electron beam computed tomography in 4 patients with acute pulmonary thromboembolism with a floating right-heart thrombus, and thromboembolectomy was done in all patients. Surgical procedure included intermittent deep hypothermic circulatory arrest. One patient died of endobronchial hemorrhage and 3 survived. CONCLUSION: Because acute pulmonary thromboembolism with a right-heart thrombus is life-threatening, immediate thromboembolectomy is required to decrease mortality.
Authors: L Chartier; J Béra; M Delomez; P Asseman; J P Beregi; J J Bauchart; H Warembourg; C Théry Journal: Circulation Date: 1999-06-01 Impact factor: 29.690