Thromboaspiration for massive pulmonary embolism following open heart surgery

Emre Özker,

doi:10.5606/tgkdc.dergisi.2013.5029

Emre Özker¹, Ahmet Bülent Sarıtaş¹, Burçak Gümüş², Can Vuran¹, Rıza Türköz¹

¹Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Başkent University İstanbul Health, Application and Research Center, İstanbul, Turkey
²Department of Radiology, Başkent University İstanbul Health, Application and Research Center, İstanbul, Turkey

DOI : 10.5606/tgkdc.dergisi.2013.5029

Massive pulmonary embolism (PE) is a common lifethreatening condition, requiring rapid recanalization of the pulmonary artery. The standard treatment is systemic thrombolysis. However, approximately one third of the patients are not suitable for thrombolysis due to major contraindications. When thrombolysis is not indicated or unsuccessful, catheter thrombectomy with thromboaspiration or open surgical embolectomy can be applied as an alternative treatment option. In this article, we present a case of massive PE developed in the early postoperative period following coronary artery bypass graft surgery. The patient was admitted to the hospital with dyspnea and clinically deteriorated in hours. The patient recovered after a thromboaspiration procedure.

Keywords : Open heart surgery; pulmonary embolism; thromboaspiration

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