The Clinical and Surgical Aspects of Chronic Pulmonary Artery Thrombosis

Abstract

An experience with two cases of subacute cor pulmonale due to thrombosis of the trunk and major branches of the pulmonary artery has brought into focus the possibility of a surgical approach to the treatment of this disease. The clinical and anatomic features of the first case suggested the possibility of making an accurate clinical diagnosis and of managing the problem surgically. The second case report represents the first planned attempt surgically to relieve the obstructive phase of chronic cor pulmonale due to pulmonary artery thrombosis. Report of Cases Case 1. —A 62-year-old white woman was admitted for the second time to Montefiore Hospital on Jan. 11, 1956, because of severe and increasing dyspnea of approximately 10 hours' duration. She was initially admitted on Dec. 16, 1955, because of an enlarged obstructing thyroid gland which compressed the right recurrent laryngeal nerve. On Dec. 29, 1955, a subtotal thyroidectomy was performed.