Jae Hwan Choi1, Thomas J O'Malley1, Elizabeth J Maynes1, Matthew P Weber1, Nicholas D D'Antonio1, Martín Mellado2, Frances M West3, Taki Galanis4, Carin F Gonsalves5, Gregary D Marhefka6, Bharat K Awsare3, Geno J Merli4, Vakhtang Tchantchaleishvili7. 1. Division of Cardiac Surgery, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 2. Faculty of Medicine, University of Chile, Santiago, Chile. 3. Division of Critical Care, Pulmonary/Allergy, and Immunology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 4. Department of Surgery, Thomas Jefferson Vascular Center, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 5. Division of Vascular and Interventional Radiology, Thomas Jefferson University Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 6. Division of Cardiology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 7. Division of Cardiac Surgery, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Electronic address: vakhtang.tchantchaleishvili@jefferson.edu.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Acute pulmonary embolism (PE) is associated with significant mortality. Surgical embolectomy is a viable treatment option; however, it remains controversial as a result of variable outcomes. This review investigates patient outcomes after surgical embolectomy for acute PE. METHODS: An electronic search was performed to identify articles reporting surgical embolectomy for treatment of PE. 32 studies were included comprising 936 patients. Demographic, perioperative, and outcome data were extracted and pooled for systematic review. RESULTS: Mean patient age was 56.3 years (95% confidence interval [CI], 52.5, 60.1), and 50% were male (95% CI, 46, 55); 82% had right ventricular dysfunction (95% CI, 62, 93), 80% (95% CI, 67, 89) had unstable hemodynamics, and 9% (95% CI, 5, 16) experienced cardiac arrest. Massive PE and submassive PE were present in 83% (95% CI, 43, 97)] and 13% (95% CI, 2, 56) of patients, respectively. Before embolectomy, 33% of patients (95% CI, 14, 60) underwent systemic thrombolysis, and 14% (95% CI, 8, 24) underwent catheter embolectomy. Preoperatively, 47% of patients were ventilated (95% CI, 26; 70), and 36% had percutaneous cardiopulmonary support (95% CI, 11, 71). Mean operative time and mean cardiopulmonary bypass time were 170 minutes (95% CI, 101, 239) and 56 minutes (95% CI, 42, 70), respectively. Intraoperative mortality was 4% (95% CI, 2, 8). Mean hospital and intensive care unit stay were 10 days (95% CI, 6, 14) and 2 days (95% CI, 1, 3), respectively. Mean postoperative systolic pulmonary artery pressure (sPAP) was significantly decreased from the preoperative period (sPAP 57.8, mm Hg; 95% CI, 53, 62.7) to the postoperative period (sPAP, 31.3 mm Hg; 24.9, 37.8); P < .01). In-hospital mortality was 16% (95% CI, 12, 21). Overall survival at 5 years was 73% (95% CI, 64, 81). CONCLUSIONS: Surgical embolectomy is an acceptable treatment option with favorable outcomes.
BACKGROUND:Acute pulmonary embolism (PE) is associated with significant mortality. Surgical embolectomy is a viable treatment option; however, it remains controversial as a result of variable outcomes. This review investigates patient outcomes after surgical embolectomy for acute PE. METHODS: An electronic search was performed to identify articles reporting surgical embolectomy for treatment of PE. 32 studies were included comprising 936 patients. Demographic, perioperative, and outcome data were extracted and pooled for systematic review. RESULTS: Mean patient age was 56.3 years (95% confidence interval [CI], 52.5, 60.1), and 50% were male (95% CI, 46, 55); 82% had right ventricular dysfunction (95% CI, 62, 93), 80% (95% CI, 67, 89) had unstable hemodynamics, and 9% (95% CI, 5, 16) experienced cardiac arrest. Massive PE and submassive PE were present in 83% (95% CI, 43, 97)] and 13% (95% CI, 2, 56) of patients, respectively. Before embolectomy, 33% of patients (95% CI, 14, 60) underwent systemic thrombolysis, and 14% (95% CI, 8, 24) underwent catheter embolectomy. Preoperatively, 47% of patients were ventilated (95% CI, 26; 70), and 36% had percutaneous cardiopulmonary support (95% CI, 11, 71). Mean operative time and mean cardiopulmonary bypass time were 170 minutes (95% CI, 101, 239) and 56 minutes (95% CI, 42, 70), respectively. Intraoperative mortality was 4% (95% CI, 2, 8). Mean hospital and intensive care unit stay were 10 days (95% CI, 6, 14) and 2 days (95% CI, 1, 3), respectively. Mean postoperative systolic pulmonary artery pressure (sPAP) was significantly decreased from the preoperative period (sPAP 57.8, mm Hg; 95% CI, 53, 62.7) to the postoperative period (sPAP, 31.3 mm Hg; 24.9, 37.8); P < .01). In-hospital mortality was 16% (95% CI, 12, 21). Overall survival at 5 years was 73% (95% CI, 64, 81). CONCLUSIONS: Surgical embolectomy is an acceptable treatment option with favorable outcomes.