Thromboendarterectomy for severe chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension

Pulmonary thromboendarterectomy is a curative surgical procedure for chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension. The aim of this study was to clarify whether severe hemodynamic compromise affects surgical outcome. We studied 19 patients who underwent pulmonary thromboendarterectomy and compared 11 with pulmonary vascular resistance < 1,000 dyne x s x cm(-5) (group 1) and 8 with pulmonary vascular resistance > 1,000 dyne x s x cm(-5) (group 2). Mean pulmonary artery pressure and pulmonary vascular resistance decreased significantly after surgery in both groups. The incidence of postoperative complications did not differ between groups; however, one patient in group 2 died of multiorgan failure. The overall mortality rate was 5.3%, and the rate in group 2 was 13%. Our results indicate that preoperative hemodynamic compromise does not affect surgical outcome. Patients with high pulmonary vascular resistance can be treated effectively by thromboendarterectomy, with acceptable morbidity and mortality.     

Pulmonary vascular steal in chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension

After pulmonary thromboendarterectomy, performed for relief of chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension, perfusion lung scans have frequently disclosed new perfusion defects in segments served by undissected pulmonary arteries. Our hypotheses were that these new postoperative defects occurred with great frequency and did not represent postoperative vessel occlusion. We retrospectively reviewed the preoperative and postoperative perfusion scans of 33 consecutive patients undergoing pulmonary thromboendarterectomy. New postoperative perfusion defects were noted in 23 of 33 patients. The incidence of new defects was increased tenfold in segments that had (1) normal preoperative angiographic findings, (2) normal preoperative radionuclide perfusion, and (3) not been entered at the time of surgery. Postoperative angiograms, available in 15 of 33 patients, documented the nonembolic, nonocclusive nature of the new perfusion scan defects. The most plausible alternate explanation for this previously undescribed finding is a redistribution of pulmonary arterial resistance induced by the thromboendarterectomy, namely, a pulmonary vascular "steal."     

Chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension

Under most circumstances, chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension represents a correctable form of pulmonary hypertension. Approximately 1500 thromboendarterectomy procedures have now been performed worldwide. Mortality rates reported by established programs with experience in the management of patients with this disease process have fallen to a range of 6 to 8%. This reduction in mortality has been contributed to by several factors: improved methods of preoperative evaluation and more selective surgical referral, increased surgical experience and refined techniques, and an increased understanding of the unique postoperative problems that occur following pulmonary thromboendarterectomy. Despite these advances, a great deal more needs to be accomplished. The early natural history and pathophysiologic mechanisms of the disease remain uncertain; improved diagnostic techniques are required; and the most feared complication of the procedure, reperfusion pulmonary edema, remains enigmatic in terms of its pathogenesis, prevention, and therapy.     

Pulmonary thromboendarterectomy for chronic pulmonary thromboembolism in three patients with systemic lupus erythematosus and antiphospholipid syndrome]

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a serious and often fatal complication of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Several potential mechanisms have been postulated for narrowing of vessels as a result of pulmonary vasculitis and pulmonary thromboembolism caused by antiphospholipid antibodies. Pulmonary thromboendarterectomy for chronic pulmonary thromboembolism is performed to alleviate pulmonary hypertension. We report three rare cases of SLE with antiphospholipid syndrome in patients who presented with PH secondary to chronic pulmonary thromboembolism. Pulmonary thromboendarterectomy was performed, and all patients remained well without deterioration of PH after surgery. Pulmonary thromboendarterectomy should be considered as an effective method of treatment for this disease.     

Chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension

Over the past 4 decades, chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension has evolved from an autopsy curiosity to a potentially correctable form of pulmonary hypertension. Advances in surgical techniques along with the introduction of pulmonary hypertension disease-modifying therapies provide a therapeutic option for the majority of patients afflicted with the disease. Approximately 5,000 thromboendarterectomy procedures have now been performed worldwide with mortality rates reported by established programs experienced in the management of this disease process falling to a range of 4 to 7%. A mortality rate of 1.3% has been reported in patients at low risk based on their preoperative hemodynamic profile. After a successful pulmonary thromboendarterectomy, substantial improvement and often normalization can be achieved in right ventricular function, gas exchange, exercise capacity, and quality of life. For patients not candidates for thromboendarterectomy, or for those with persistent post-thromboendarterectomy pulmonary hypertension, disease-modifying medical therapies have been demonstrated to stabilize and improve pulmonary hemodynamics, albeit not to the same extent as primary thromboendarterectomy. The current review focuses on the diagnostic approach to chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension and the available surgical and medical therapeutic options. Additional research is necessary to more accurately predict postoperative hemodynamic outcome and to define the optimal therapeutic approach, especially in patients with involvement of the distal vasculature.     

Prostacyclin therapy before pulmonary thromboendarterectomy in patients with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension

OBJECTIVES: The continuous IV administration of prostacyclin improves pulmonary hemodynamics and prognosis in patients with primary pulmonary hypertension. We investigated whether the administration of prostacyclin therapy to patients before they undergo pulmonary thromboendarterectomy ameliorates pulmonary hypertension in patients with the most severe form of chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH). METHODS: Of the 33 patients with CTEPH who were candidates for pulmonary thromboendarterectomy, 12 patients with severe pulmonary hypertension (pulmonary vascular resistance, > 1,200 dyne. s. cm(-5)) received IV prostacyclin prior to undergoing pulmonary thromboendarterectomy. Right heart catheterization and plasma brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) measurements were repeated at baseline, immediately before surgery, and 1 month after surgery. RESULTS: During a mean (+/- SEM) follow-up period of 46 +/- 12 days, the IV administration of prostacyclin resulted in a 28% decrease in pulmonary vascular resistance (1,510 +/- 53 to 1,088 +/- 58 dyne. s. cm(-5); p < 0.001) before surgery. Prostacyclin therapy markedly decreased plasma BNP level (547 +/- 112 to 188 +/- 30 pg/mL; p < 0.01), suggesting improvement in right heart failure. Pulmonary thromboendarterectomy caused a further reduction of pulmonary vascular resistance (302 +/- 47 dyne. s. cm(-5)) and plasma BNP levels (60 +/- 11 pg/mL) compared to each preoperative value (p < 0.05). Operative mortality rates were relatively low (8.3%) in patients with the most severe form of CTEPH. CONCLUSION: The IV administration of prostacyclin caused beneficial hemodynamic effects in patients with severe CTEPH and may serve as pretreatment for patients undergoing pulmonary thromboendarterectomy.     

Chronic thromboembolic pulmonary arterial hypertension: correlation of postoperative results of thromboendarterectomy with preoperative helical contrast-enhanced computed tomography

INTRODUCTION: Pulmonary thromboendarterectomy is the treatment of choice for patients with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary arterial hypertension (CTEPH). Some patients do poorly after this procedure and may be better candidates for heart-lung transplant. The purpose of this study was to correlate preoperative findings on helical contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) with surgical outcome. METHODS: Thirty-seven patients (mean age 52.9, range 22-71) who underwent pulmonary thromboendarterectomy and had preoperative helical contrast-enhanced CT followed by High Resolution CT (HRCT) scans were included in the study. The CTs were evaluated for the presence of central and segmental disease and for the presence of mosaic perfusion pattern. RESULTS: The presence of central disease, as well as the presence of segmental disease, correlated negatively with the postoperative mean pulmonary arterial pressure [r(c) = -0.401, P = 0.015, r(s) = -0.38, P = 0.024)] and the pulmonary vascular resistance [(r(c) = -0.37, P = 0.027, r(s) = -0.39, P = 0.019]. No correlation was found between the clinical variables and the presence of mosaic perfusion pattern. CONCLUSION: Patients with CTEPH and evidence of chronic PE in the central or segmental pulmonary arteries have a better clinical outcome after pulmonary thromboendarterectomy than patients without these findings. The presence of mosaic perfusion pattern is not helpful in predicting postoperative outcome.     

肺动脉血栓内膜剥脱术的麻醉管理

目的:探讨肺动脉血栓内膜剥脱术(pulmonary thromboendarterectomy,PTE)的麻醉方法.方法:通过对19例行肺动脉血栓内膜剥脱术的患者术前状况,手术方式、麻醉管理、术后状况及预后进行分析;探索可行的麻醉经验.结果:治愈12例(63.2％);好转3例(15.8％);术后早期死亡2例(10.5％...     

Thoracic research scholarship 1988: pulmonary thromboendarterectomy for chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension at the University of California, San Diego

At the University of California, San Diego pulmonary thromboendarterectomy (PTE) has emerged as an effective measure in the treatment of chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension. Unresolved emboli become organized by incorporation into the vascular wall and may form strictures, webs, bands and/or membranous occlusions and cause pulmonary hypertension refractory to medical treatment. When pulmonary vascular resistance exceeds 300 dyn.sec.cm-5 and the vascular wall changes are located to begin at or proximal to the lobar artery level, surgery is indicated. The operation is performed using cardiopulmonary bypass, deep hypothermia and periods of circulatory arrest. The dissection of each segmental artery is carried out in the media layer from separate incisions in the right and left pulmonary artery at the level of the pericardial flexion. Pulmonary reperfusion edema may complicates the postoperative course, and pulmonary hemorrhage, respiratory insufficiency necessitating prolonged ventilatory support and secondary multi organ failure are main causes of hospital mortality. Between October 1984 and September 1988 103 patients with a mean age of 50 +/- 16 years underwent PTE. Consequently, pulmonary vascular resistance could be reduced from 788 +/- 370 to 299 +/- 150 dyn.sec.cm-5 and cardiac index increased from 2.0 +/- 0.6 to 3.2 +/- 0.8 l/min-m2. Hospital mortality was 11.7% (12/103 patients). Thus, pulmonary thromboendarterectomy effectively reduces pulmonary hypertension at an acceptable low risk. The results indicate that patients should be diagnose and referred for surgery as early as possible.     

Permeability pulmonary edema following lung resection

The etiology of edema associated with pulmonary resection was investigated in five patients during the immediate postoperative period. Three patients received pneumonectomy while two patients had one lobe resected. All patients suffered from severe respiratory distress and had x-ray evidence of diffuse interstitial pulmonary edema within 12 hours of surgery. Hemodynamic data were obtained with radial and pulmonary artery catheters. Edema fluid was obtained along with blood samples for simultaneous determination of protein and albumin content. All patients studied had normal or high cardiac output, normal cardiac filling pressures, and edema fluid protein to serum protein ratio of 0.6 or greater suggestive of permeability changes contributing to edema fluid accumulation. Calculated shunt fraction exceeded 25 percent in all patients. Pulmonary edema has been noted in patients following pulmonary resection in the early postoperative period. In patients reviewed here, two factors appeared to be significant. First is an increase in pulmonary capillary pressure associated with passage of a normal to high cardiac output in a reduced volume pulmonary vascular bed. The second factor, as demonstrated by protein content in the edema fluid, is injury to the alveolar capillary membrane.     

术前肺功能对肺切除术术后并发症及术后肺功能的预测

目的观察肺切除手术患者术前、后肺功能演变特征,探讨术前肺功能指标对患者术后并发症和术后肺功能的预测能力。方法对115例肺切除手术患者进行术前常规肺功能及运动心肺功能检测,术后3个月行肺功能复查;追踪患者1个月内术后心肺并发症(PPC)的发生情况。结果28例手术患者出现PPC(24.35%);有、无PPC组间比较有差异的肺功能指标为:FVC%pred、FEV1%pred、VO2m ax%pred、WRm ax%pred、VO2/HR%pred;术后肺通气功能、运动心肺功能与术前比较有不同程度下降;术后肺功能实测值与公式法预计的术后肺功能值比较差异有显著性。结论术后肺功能损害主要是限制性肺通气功能障碍,运动心肺功能亦有下降。建立预测PPC及术后肺功能的回归方程,能更准确地评估患者的手术耐受力。     

Chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension.

Pulmonary arterial hypertension is a severe disease that has been ignored for a long time. However, over the past 20 yrs chest physicians, cardiologists and thoracic surgeons have shown increasing interest in this disease because of the development of new therapies, that have improved both the outcome and quality of life of patients, including pulmonary transplantation and prostacyclin therapy. Chronic thromboembolic pulmonary arterial hypertension (CTEPH) can be cured surgically through a complex surgical procedure: the pulmonary thromboendarterectomy. Pulmonary thromboendarterectomy is performed under hypothermia and total circulatory arrest. Due to clinically evident acute-pulmonary embolism episodes being absent in > 50% of patients, the diagnosis of CTEPH can be difficult. Lung scintiscan showing segmental mismatched perfusion defects is the best diagnostic tool to detect CTEPH. Pulmonary angiography confirms the diagnosis and determines the feasibility of endarterectomy according to the location of the disease, proximal versus distal. The technique of angiography must be perfect with the whole arterial tree captured on the same picture for each lung. The lesions must start at the level of the pulmonary artery trunk, or at the level of the lobar arteries, in order to find a plan for the endarterectomy. When the haemodynamic gravity corresponds to the degree of obliteration, pulmonary thromboendarterectomy can be performed with minimal perioperative mortality, providing definitive, excellent functional results in almost all cases.     

Different time course of changes in tricuspid regurgitant pressure gradient and pulmonary artery flow acceleration after pulmonary thromboendarterectomy: implications for discordant recovery of pulmonary artery pressure and compliance.

BACKGROUND: Pulmonary artery pressure (PAP) is reduced dramatically after pulmonary thromboendarterectomy in patients with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH). However, it is unclear whether pulmonary artery compliance increases in conjunction with the reduction in PAP. Pulmonary artery compliance may affect right ventricular afterload and prognosis. METHODS AND RESULTS: In 33 patients with CTEPH (9 men, 22-76 years), changes in the tricuspid regurgitation pressure gradient (TRPG) and the acceleration time (ACT) of pulmonary artery flow (a surrogate parameter of pulmonary artery compliance) were examined before and after pulmonary thromboendarterectomy using echocardiography to clarify factors affecting the changes. At 6 months, both TRPG and ACT normalized (or=100 ms, respectively) in 25 patients (group A) but not in 8 (group B). In group B, there were 5 with normal TRPG and shortened ACT at 6 months that normalized at 17+/-3 months. Group A patients showed shorter disease period and shorter period without anticoagulation than group B patients (p=0.04, 0.02 respectively). All patients in group A had the proximal type, and 2 patients of group B had the distal type (p=0.05). Clinical improvement was more remarkable in group A. CONCLUSIONS: The recovery of PAP and the ACT of pulmonary artery flow was not always concordant after pulmonary thromboendarterectomy, suggesting a presence of a time lag in the recovery between pressure and compliance in some patients. A long period of CTEPH, a long period without anticoagulation and the distal embolism type may be predictive factors of an unfavorable operative result with reduced pulmonary artery compliance, and hence poor recovery of clinical performance.     

Fatal postoperative pulmonary edema: pathogenesis and literature review.

STUDY OBJECTIVES: Pulmonary edema is a known postoperative complication, but the clinical manifestations and danger levels for fluid administration are not known. We studied (1) 13 postoperative patients (11 adult, 2 pediatric) who developed fatal pulmonary edema, and (2) one contemporaneous year of inpatient operations at two university teaching hospitals to determine the clinical manifestations, causes, epidemiology, and guidelines for fluid administration. DESIGN: Retrospective analysis of 13 patients with fatal postoperative pulmonary edema and one contemporaneous year of major inpatient surgery. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Thirteen patients had net fluid retention of at least 67 mL/kg in the initial 24 postoperative hours and developed pulmonary edema. Ten were generally healthy while three had serious associated medical conditions. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS: There was no measurement, laboratory value, or clinical finding predictive of impending pulmonary edema. The most common clinical manifestation following the onset of pulmonary edema was cardiorespiratory arrest (n = 8). Patients had metabolic acidosis (pH = 7.15 +/- .33), hypoxia (PO2 = 45 +/- 18 mm Hg), and normal electrolytes. The diagnosis of pulmonary edema was established by chest radiograph and confirmed by autopsy and pulmonary artery pressure (21 +/- 4 mm Hg). The mean net fluid retention was 7.0 +/- 4.5 L (90 +/- 36 mL/kg/d) and exceeded 67 mL/kg/d in all patients. Autopsy revealed pulmonary edema with no other cause of death. Among 8,195 major operations, 7.6% developed pulmonary edema with a mortality of 11.9%. Extrapolation to the 8.2 million annual major surgeries in the United States yields a projection of 8,000 to 74,000 deaths. CONCLUSIONS: Pulmonary edema can occur within the initial 36 postoperative hours when net fluid retention exceeds 67 mL/kg/d. There are no known predictive warning signs and cardiorespiratory arrest is the most frequent clinical presentation. The monitoring systems currently in use neither detect nor predict impending pulmonary edema, and as yet, there are no known panic values for excessive fluid administration or retention.     

Sildenafil therapy for pulmonary hypertension before and after pediatric congenital heart surgery

Pulmonary hypertension associated with pediatric congenital heart defects is a major cause of postoperative morbidity and death. Sildenafil has been combined with inhaled nitric oxide to treat pulmonary hypertension. We retrospectively studied the pre- and postoperative effects of oral sildenafil as monotherapy in children with pulmonary hypertension who underwent surgery to correct congenital cardiac defects. From September 2005 through November 2009, 38 children with moderate-to-severe pulmonary arterial hypertension (pulmonary arterial/aortic pressure ratio, >0.7) underwent cardiac surgery at our institution. Fifteen patients were given sildenafil (0.35 mg/kg, every 4 hr) orally or through nasogastric tubes 1 week before and 1 week after surgery. Twenty-three patients of comparable medical status were given sildenafil only upon the institution of cardiopulmonary bypass and for 1 week after surgery. Postoperatively, the 15 patients who were given preoperative sildenafil had significantly lower mean pulmonary arterial pressures (25.6 ± 3.1 vs. 30.4 ± 5.7 mmHg; P = 0.005) and pulmonary arterial/aortic pressure ratios (0.35 ± 0.05 vs. 0.42 ± 0.07; P = 0.002) than did the other 23 patients. The preoperative therapy also shortened cardiopulmonary bypass time, mechanical ventilation time, and lengths of intensive care unit and hospital stays. No sildenafil-related hypertensive crises or sequelae occurred. As monotherapy, oral sildenafil in low doses appears to control pulmonary hypertension safely and effectively in children undergoing operations to correct congenital heart defects, particularly when it is given both preoperatively and postoperatively. Further study is warranted.     

Thromboendarterectomy for chronic, major-vessel thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension. Immediate and long-term results in 42 patients

Since 1970, forty-two patients with pulmonary hypertension due to chronic, thromboembolic obstruction of the major pulmonary arteries have had pulmonary thromboendarterectomy at the University of California, San Diego, and the San Diego Veterans Medical Centers. Duration of symptoms before admission averaged 4.4 years, with many alternative diagnoses having been made. At admission, 29 patients had class IV disease by New York Heart Association criteria, and 12, class III. Immediately after surgery, pulmonary vascular resistance declined significantly (p less than 0.001) from 897 +/- 352 dynes/s.cm-5 to 278 +/- 135 dynes/s.cm-5. Seven patients with class IV disease died in the postoperative period. Of the 35 survivors (mean follow-up, 28 months), 16 had class I disease; 18, class II; and 1, class III. Of the 17 patients who have returned for cardiac catheterization at 4 to 12 months after surgery, a further decline (p less than 0.05) in pulmonary vascular resistance has occurred. This experience indicates that the disorder is commoner than we previously suspected and that thromboendarterectomy is feasible, even in patients with severe and protracted hemodynamic compromise.     

Chronic pulmonary embolism and pulmonary hypertension

Incomplete resolution of acute pulmonary embolism (PE) is frequently observed after acute PE and may rarely result in chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH). The underlying pathophysiological mechanism is largely unknown. Evidence underlines the concept of a dual pulmonary vascular compartment model consisting of increased pulmonary vascular resistance by both large vessel obstruction and distal small vessel obliteration, the latter initiated by pathological vascular remodeling. Up to 40% of patients with established CTEPH have no prior history of symptomatic venous thromboembolism. CTEPH is associated with a poor prognosis if left untreated. Therefore, the diagnostic approach of CTEPH aims at assessing the location and extent of the embolic obstruction, establishing the operability and prognosis of the patients and ruling out other variations of pulmonary hypertension with distinct indicated treatment. Heart catheterization for invasive pressure measurements and pulmonary catheter angiography is obligatory for the final diagnosis. Pulmonary thromboendarterectomy is the treatment of choice. In certain patients with persistent or recurrent pulmonary hypertension after surgery or with inoperable disease, pharmacotherapy might be beneficial.     

Chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension

Over the past 4 decades, chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension has evolved from an autopsy curiosity to a potentially correctable form of pulmonary hypertension. Approximately 2500 thromboendarterectomy procedures have now been performed worldwide with mortality rates reported by established programs experienced in the management of this disease process falling to a range of 4 to 8%. Following a successful pulmonary thromboendarterectomy, substantial improvement, and at times normalization, can be achieved in right ventricular function, gas exchange, exercise capacity, and quality of life. Reperfusion lung injury and residual postoperative pulmonary hypertension remain the major causes of mortality in patients undergoing the procedure.     

Quantitative assessment of right ventricular volumes in severe chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension using transthoracic three-dimensional echocardiography: changes due to pulmonary thromboendarterectomy.

AIMS: Evaluation of a three-dimensional reconstruction method to show the changes of right ventricular volume and systolic function when patients undergo pulmonary thromboendarterectomy for chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension. METHODS AND RESULTS: In the examination of 11 patients (four female, seven male; age 56+/-10 years) before and after pulmonary thromboendarterectomy, end-diastolic and end-systolic right ventricular volumes were determined as a sum total of the calculated volumes of derived parallel slices of the right ventricle. Using a Tomtec workstation and a Vingmed CFM 800 echocardiography device, the acquired data were ECG-and respiration-triggered in the course of transthoracic examination, using step intervals of 5 degrees. The ventricular outline was traced manually on 5mm slices from longitudinal cut planes. For subsequent correction, their area measurements were displayed and the volume cross-checked against the volume from orthogonal cut planes. End-diastolic and end-systolic volumes could be quantified in 11/11 cases before surgery, but data could only be attained for 9/11 patients after surgery, because a limited apical window rendered the postoperative three-dimensional reconstruction impossible in two cases. Before surgery, right ventricular size was larger than normal and systolic function was clearly impaired in all of the patients (end-diastolic volume: 121+/-37 ml; end-systolic volume 91+/-30 ml; ejection fraction 25+/-8%). The decrease in mean pulmonary artery pressure after surgery was significant (47+/-8 vs 26+/-8 mmHg; P<0.05). End-diastolic and end-systolic right ventricular volumes had been reduced (80+/-33 ml and 54+/-31 ml respectively), and the ejection fraction had increased (36+/-9%). CONCLUSIONS: Successfully performed pulmonary thromboendarterectomy leads to a significant reduction of right ventricular chamber size and improvement of systolic function, which can be determined with great precision and quite easily, using transthoracic three-dimensional echocardiography.Copyright 2002 The European Society of Cardiology. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.     

Chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension: clinical picture and surgical treatment.

Chronic, major vessel thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH), is an uncommon condition which, in the past, was an autopsy curiosity. Advances in diagnostic approaches, surgical techniques and postoperative management have transformed this disorder into a potentially curable form of pulmonary hypertension. The predominant symptom is unexplained dyspnoea on exertion. In patients with this complaint, CTEPH should be considered. Numerous pitfalls exist along the diagnostic path. Perfusion lung scans point toward the diagnosis, but often underestimate the extent of central arterial obstruction. Pulmonary angiography is the key diagnostic procedure, but the many patterns of thrombus organization-recanalization require a base of experience for proper interpretation. Criteria for selection of patients for surgery are evolving, but assurance of thrombus accessibility to surgery is critical. Surgical thromboendarterectomy bears no resemblance to acute pulmonary embolectomy. Recognition of thrombus (versus normal intima), meticulous dissection and a bloodless surgical field are essential for adequate restoration of pulmonary vascular patency. Multiple complications may arise postoperatively, and detailed attention to these is required for patient survival. With a co-ordinated, multi-specialty team effort, however, haemodynamic and clinical outcomes have been rewarding and persist long-term. Surgical mortality should steadily decline with such a co-ordinated effort, as well as earlier diagnosis and advances in surgical and postoperative management techniques.