Rescue surgical embolectomy for fatal pulmonary embolism in patient with intracranial hemorrhage.

The incidence of pulmonary embolism is relatively high in stroke patients due to prolonged bed rest, paralysis of the lower extremities, and dehydration. We herein report three cases of pulmonary embolectomy for patients with intracranial hemorrhage. All patients had massive central pulmonary embolism and were in deep shock. The interval between the onset of intracranial bleeding and surgical embolectomy was 7 to 16 days. All patients underwent emergent pulmonary embolectomy using cardiopulmonary bypass and survived without any neurologic exacerbation. Surgical pulmonary embolectomy is a treatment of choice to save patients with massive pulmonary embolism after intracranial hemorrhage.