title: Surgical pulmonary embolectomy in a community hospital.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Surgical pulmonary embolectomy (SPE) is indicated for a pulmonary embolism associated with hemodynamic instability. A review of the literature demonstrates that most studies of SPE are conducted at large academic medical centers. This series is from a 325-bed community hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective chart review was performed of patients undergoing SPE from January 2008 to December 2012. All patients aged >18 years were reviewed for 30-day mortality, length of hospital stay, comorbidities, and preoperative hemodynamic parameters.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fifteen patients (7 men and 8 women; median age, 55.5 years; range, 20-72 years) underwent SPE. There were 2 deaths (13.3%). Four of the patients underwent catheter-directed interventions before SPE. The mean length of hospital stay was 12 days.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These data suggest that SPE is associated with favorable outcomes in the appropriate community setting, and the mortality rate seen in this study compares favorably with the nationwide average of 27.2%.
authors.affiliation: General Surgery Department, Carle Foundation Hospital, 611 W Park Street, Urbana, IL 61801, USA. Electronic address: zachary.osborne@carle.com.
authors.forename: Zachary J
authors.initials: ZJ
authors.lastname: Osborne
authors.affiliation: General Surgery Department, Carle Foundation Hospital, 611 W Park Street, Urbana, IL 61801, USA.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rossi
authors.affiliation: General Surgery Department, Carle Foundation Hospital, 611 W Park Street, Urbana, IL 61801, USA.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Aucar
authors.affiliation: General Surgery Department, Carle Foundation Hospital, 611 W Park Street, Urbana, IL 61801, USA.
authors.forename: Sadru
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dharamsy
authors.affiliation: General Surgery Department, Carle Foundation Hospital, 611 W Park Street, Urbana, IL 61801, USA.
authors.forename: Scott
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cook
authors.affiliation: General Surgery Department, Carle Foundation Hospital, 611 W Park Street, Urbana, IL 61801, USA.
authors.forename: Brian
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Wheatley
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D017128:Embolectomy / Q000401:mortality*; D005260:Female; D006764:Hospitals, Community; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000601:surgery*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Community hospital; Pulmonary embolectomy; Pulmonary embolism; Venous thromboembolism