Successful open pulmonary embolectomy for acute massive pulmonary embolism in a recent kidney transplant recipient.
BACKGROUND
Patients with acute massive pulmonary embolus have a high mortality even with treatment. For patients in whom thrombolytic intervention is contraindicated, surgical pulmonary embolectomy is a viable option.


METHODS
We present a patient who, four months after kidney transplantation, developed acute massive PE with cardiac arrest. He underwent surgical pulmonary embolectomy and was discharged two weeks later, with preservation of renal allograft function and long-term survival.


CONCLUSIONS
While the mortality risk of surgical embolectomy is high, survival has been greatly improved by the use of cardiopulmonary bypass. Early diagnosis and initiation of aggressive treatment is vital to achieving successful outcomes in patients who would otherwise be unsalvageable.
McHugh
Patrick P
PP
Section of Transplantation, Department of Surgery, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40536, USA.
Johnston
Thomas D
TD
Gedaly
Roberto
R
Jeon
Hoonbae
H
Ranjan
Dinesh
D
D002315:Cardiopulmonary Bypass; D015897:Comorbidity; D020878:Device Removal; D017128:Embolectomy; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D016030:Kidney Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000453:epidemiology; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D012770:Shock, Cardiogenic / Q000209:etiology; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed