Minimally invasive off-pump surgical pulmonary embolectomy for improved patient-centred care

Author(s):  
Brian Ayers ◽  
Katherine Wood ◽  
Milica Bjelic ◽  
Igor Gosev

Abstract We present a complicated case of massive pulmonary embolism occurring 11 weeks after a craniotomy in a patient with multiple high-risk comorbidities. The patient underwent successful pulmonary artery surgical embolectomy via left mini-thoracotomy incision on peripheral venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation support. For this patient, avoiding a sternotomy allowed for greatly decreased postoperative morbidity and the use of venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation allowed for the avoidance of intraoperative anticoagulation. This case demonstrates the feasibility of off-pump surgical pulmonary embolectomy via left mini-thoracotomy as a treatment strategy for appropriate patients to improve patient-centred care.

2018 ◽  
pp. 931-931
Author(s):  
Sebastian Stefaniak ◽  
Mateusz Puślecki ◽  
Marcin Ligowski ◽  
Łukasz Szarpak ◽  
Marek Jemielity

2020 ◽  
Vol 47 (3) ◽  
pp. 202-206
Author(s):  
Aneil Bhalla ◽  
Robert Attaran

Mechanical circulatory support may help patients with massive pulmonary embolism who are not candidates for systemic thrombolysis, pulmonary embolectomy, or catheter-directed therapy, or in whom these established interventions have failed. Little published literature covers this topic, which led us to compare outcomes of patients whose massive pulmonary embolism was managed with the use of venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) or a right ventricular assist device (RVAD). We searched the medical literature from January 1990 through September 2018 for reports of adults hospitalized for massive or high-risk pulmonary embolism complicated by hemodynamic instability, and who underwent VA-ECMO therapy or RVAD placement. Primary outcomes included weaning from mechanical circulatory support and discharge from the hospital. We found 16 reports that included 181 patients (164 VA-ECMO and 17 RVAD). All RVAD recipients were successfully weaned from support, as were 122 (74%) of the VA-ECMO patients. Sixteen (94%) of the RVAD patients were discharged from the hospital, as were 120 (73%) of the VA-ECMO patients. Of note, the 8 RVAD patients who had an Impella RP System were all weaned and discharged. For patients with massive pulmonary embolism who are not candidates for conventional interventions or whose conditions are refractory, mechanical circulatory support in the form of RVAD placement or ECMO may be considered. Larger comparative studies are needed.


Perfusion ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 34 (1) ◽  
pp. 22-28 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rasha Al-Bawardy ◽  
Kenneth Rosenfield ◽  
Jorge Borges ◽  
Michael N. Young ◽  
Mazen Albaghdadi ◽  
...  

Background: Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) has been used to stabilize patients with massive pulmonary embolism though few reports describe this approach. We describe the presentation, management and outcomes of patients who received ECMO for massive pulmonary embolism (PE) in our pulmonary embolism response team (PERT) registry. Methods: We enrolled a consecutive cohort of patients with confirmed PE for whom PERT was activated and selected patients treated with ECMO. We prospectively captured clinical, therapeutic and outcome data at the time of PERT activation and during the follow-up period for up to 365 days. Results: Thirteen patients who had PERT activation with confirmed PE diagnosis have undergone ECMO since the initiation of our PERT program in 2012. The mean age was 49 ± 19 years. Six (46%) patients were female. All the patients had cardiac arrest, either as an initial presentation or in-hospital cardiac arrest after presentation. All the patients exhibited right ventricular (RV) dilation on echocardiogram with RV hypokinesis. Eight (62%) patients received systemic thrombolysis with intravenous tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) and three (23%) patients underwent catheter-directed thrombolysis therapy using the EKOS system (EKOS Corporation, Bothell, WA, USA). Four (31%) patients underwent surgical embolectomy. Mean ECMO duration was 5.5 days, ranging from 2-18 days. Thirty-day mortality was 31% and one-year mortality was 54%. Conclusions: Patients with massive pulmonary embolism who suffer a cardiac arrest have high morbidity and mortality. ECMO can be used in conjunction with systemic thrombolysis, catheter-directed therapy or as a bridge to surgical embolectomy.


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