Feasibility of Pulmonary Embolectomy

Abstract

A review of 52 autopsy-proven cases of massive pulmonary embolism is presented to determine a time interval between embolization and death. These patients were classified into 2 main groups; "previously healthy" patients and "terminally ill" patients. Fifty-five % of the "previously healthy" patients survived 2 hours, and forty-eight % survived more than 8 hours after onset of embolization. This was in contrast to the group of "terminally ill" patients, wherein only 30% survived 2 hours. This data suggests that the interval between embolization and death is greater than generally estimated in patients who were previously healthy. This interval is often adequate to allow surgical intervention, and the successful outcome in this case and other reported cases should prompt a reevaluation of pulmonary embolectomy as the primary treatment for massive pulmonary embolus.