Surgical pulmonary embolectomy and thrombolytic therapy
Landesberg, G.; Shimon, D.; Shir, Y.; Rivkind, A.; Forman, A.; Barlatzki, J.; Borman, J.B.
Harefuah 119(10): 309-310
1990
ISSN/ISBN: 0017-7768 PMID: 2283116 Document Number: 363674
Acute, massive pulmonary embolism is life-threatening and must be treated immediately. Since the early 1970's when thrombolytic therapy was shown to hasten resolution of pulmonary emboli, there has been a debate in the literature as to new indications for surgical pulmonary embolectomy. Some authors believed that there are no longer any indications for embolectomy, while others justify surgery for certain indications. Although the debate is still on, this operation is very rarely performed today. We present a patient who developed massive pulmonary embolism, with continuing extreme hemodynamic and respiratory disturbances despite full thrombolytic treatment. Embolectomy was successfully performed.