The use of hemodynamic support in massive pulmonary embolism.

Massive pulmonary embolism is life threatening and can present as cardiogenic shock and cardiac arrest. We report a case of a 47-year-old male who arrested during his postoperative hospitalization and was found to have a massive pulmonary embolism with bilateral involvement of the pulmonary arteries. Given his profound shock and right ventricular failure, an Impella RP was used to stabilize his acute right ventricular failure while percutaneous embolectomy and thrombolysis was used to treat the pulmonary embolism. The patient underwent the procedure successfully with reduction in vasopressors and thrombus burden and recovery of right ventricular function.