Short- and long-term outcomes for the surgical treatment of acute pulmonary embolism

OBJECTIVES: Acute pulmonary embolism can be a life-threatening condition with a high mortality. The treatment choice is a matter of debate. The early and late outcomes of patients treated with surgical pulmonary embolectomy for acute pulmonary embolism in a single center were analyzed. METHODS: All consecutive patients operated on for pulmonary embolism between January 2002 and March 2017 were reviewed. Patient demographics and pre- and postoperative clinical data were retrieved from our patient registry, and risk factors for in-hospital and long-term mortality were identified. RESULTS: In total, 175 patients (mean age 59±3 years, 50% male) were operated on for acute pulmonary embolism. In-hospital mortality was 19% (34/175). No differences were found when comparing surgery utilizing a beating heart or cardioplegic arrest. Risk factors for in-hospital mortality were age >70 years [odds ratio (OR) 4.8, confidence interval (CI) 1.7–13.1, p=0.002], body surface area <2 m(2) (OR 4.7, CI 1.6–13.7, p=0.004), preoperative resuscitation (OR 14.1, CI 4.9–40.8, p<0.001), and the absence of deep vein thrombosis (OR 9.6, CI 2.5–37.6, p<0.001). Follow-up was 100% complete with a 10-year survival rate of 66.4% in 141/175 patients surviving to discharge. Once discharged from hospital, none of the risk factors identified for in-hospital mortality were relevant for long-term survival except the absence of deep vein thrombosis (OR 3.2, CI 1.2–8.2, p=0.019). The presence of malignancy was a relevant risk factor for long-term mortality (OR 4.3, CI 1.8–10.3, p=0.001). CONCLUSION: Surgical pulmonary embolectomy as a therapy for acute pulmonary embolism demonstrates excellent short- and long-term results in patients with an otherwise life-threatening disease, especially in younger patients with a body surface area >2 m(2) and pulmonary embolism caused by deep vein thrombosis. Pulmonary embolectomy should therefore not be reserved as a treatment of last resort for clinically desperate circumstances.