Pulmonary thromboendarterectomy combined with other cardiac operations: indications, surgical approach, and outcome.
BACKGROUND
Patients with pulmonary hypertension due to chronic thromboembolic disease benefit from pulmonary thromboendarterectomy. A subset of these patients present with concomitant coronary or valvular disease.


METHODS
From July 1990 to July 2000, 90 patients (68 males, 22 females, mean age 68 years) with pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) ranging from 297 to 2261 dynes x sec x cm(-5) underwent pulmonary thromboendarterectomy in conjunction with coronary bypass grafting (59 patients), coronary artery bypass grafting/foramen ovale closure (24 patients), tricuspid annuloplasty (3 patients), mitral valve repair (2 patients), and aortic valve replacement (2 patients). The perioperative and hemodynamic outcomes of these patients were compared with the cohort of 1,100 isolated pulmonary thromboendarterectomies performed at our institution during this time.


RESULTS
Overall perioperative survival (93.3%; 84 of 90 patients) and mean diminution in PVR (521 dynes x sec x cm(-5)) for patients undergoing combined operations were similar to those undergoing pulmonary thromboendarterectomy alone (94.2% survival; 1034 of 1100 patients; 547 dynes x sec x cm(-5) mean PVR reduction). Although patients undergoing combined operations were older (mean age 68 vs 50 years, p < 0.0001), had longer hospital stays (median 14 vs 9 days), and had worse left ventricular function (mean preoperative cardiac output 3.1 vs 4.4, p < 0.0001), there was no difference in cross-clamp time, resolution of tricuspid regurgitation, or postoperative systolic function between these two groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Pulmonary thromboendarterectomy for chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension may be performed safely in conjunction with other cardiac operations. Older patients evaluated for pulmonary thromboendarterectomy should be screened for concomitant coronary and valvular disease.
Thistlethwaite
P A
PA
Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, University of California, San Diego 92103-8892, USA. pthistlethwaite@ucsd.edu
Auger
W R
WR
Madani
M M
MM
Pradhan
S
S
Kapelanski
D P
DP
Jamieson
S W
SW
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002423:Cause of Death; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D015897:Comorbidity; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D004691:Endarterectomy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006349:Heart Valve Diseases / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D006976:Hypertension, Pulmonary / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000401:mortality*; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D012307:Risk Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome