Complete Review of Pulmonary artery Embolectomy

Pulmonary artery embolectomy is a life-saving surgical procedure performed in patients with massive pulmonary embolism who are hemodynamically unstable or have contraindications to thrombolytic therapy. The operation involves median sternotomy, institution of cardiopulmonary bypass, and direct visualization of the main and branch pulmonary arteries. Under controlled circulatory conditions, the surgeon opens the pulmonary artery and removes large obstructing thromboemboli to rapidly restore pulmonary blood flow, improve right ventricular function, and correct severe hypoxia. Modern techniques emphasize meticulous clot extraction, protection of the fragile pulmonary arterial intima, and postoperative optimization of right-heart performance. When performed promptly in appropriately selected patients, pulmonary artery embolectomy can significantly reduce mortality and prevent long-term complications such as chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension.