Pulmonary Endarterectomy
Pulmonary endarterectomy (PEA) is the treatment of choice to relieve pulmonary artery obstruction in patients with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) and offers a potentially curative treatment for some patients. Some people with pulmonary hypertension (PH) have blockages caused by blood clots. And need to know that a few people with PH may have blockages unsuitable for pulmonary endarterectomy.
What Happens During Pulmonary Endarterectomy?
Firstly, you receive anesthesia for the procedure, which basically starts early in the morning and lasts for about six hours.
The main part is:
- At first, insert an endotracheal tube (ETT) through your mouth or nose to your airways and connects it to an oxygen machine (ventilator) for your breathing.
- Then, make an incision in your sternum (breastbone) to reach your heart and lungs.
- After that Connects you to a cardiopulmonary bypass machine, which acts as your heart and lungs during the procedure.
- Next, slowly cools your body to 65 degrees Fahrenheit (18 degrees Celsius).
- Then, use specific tools to remove clots and scar tissue from your arteries.
- And warms your body to your regular temperature and takes you off the bypass machine, leaving you connected to the ventilator.
- Lastly, closes your chest, leaving tubes to drain excess fluid from your body.
Benefits of Pulmonary Endarterectomy?
It is important to know that PTE is the only way to cure chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH). And obviously, the surgery is successful in most cases, leading to improved breathing, lung function and ability to be active. Several patients who were on oxygen before surgery can come off after surgery, and damage to their right heart from the disease is often reversed. The great fact is that long-term survival is excellent after surgery.
