PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Anyama, Best
AU  - Viswanath, Omar
AU  - De La Cuesta, Carolina
AU  - Kannan, Murlikrishna
AU  - Wittels, Michael
AU  - Xydas, Steve
AU  - Kaye, Alan David
AU  - Farcy, David A.
TI  - Emergent Surgical Embolectomy for Massive Pulmonary Embolism Causing Intraoperative Cardiac Arrest
AID  - 10.31486/toj.17.0067
DP  - 2018 Jun 20
TA  - Ochsner Journal
PG  - 183--187
VI  - 18
IP  - 2
4099  - http://www.ochsnerjournal.org/content/18/2/183.short
4100  - http://www.ochsnerjournal.org/content/18/2/183.full
SO  - Ochsner J2018 Jun 20; 18
AB  - Background: A massive pulmonary embolism (PE) is associated with high mortality once cardiac arrest occurs. Surgical embolectomy is indicated in patients who have massive PE.Case Report: A 62-year-old male emergently underwent surgical embolectomy after sustaining an intraoperative cardiac arrest caused by a massive PE during an open reduction with internal fixation of a closed comminuted midshaft tibia fracture. Postoperatively, the patient developed pulmonary hypertension and acute renal failure. He was treated with aerosolized epoprostenol for right ventricular strain secondary to pulmonary hypertension. He survived the hospital course and was discharged without any other major complications.Conclusion: Surgical embolectomy is a viable option for massive PE, and aerosolized epoprostenol can be used as adjuvant treatment for right ventricular strain secondary to acute pulmonary hypertension.