[Successful thrombolysis of a massive pulmonary embolism following pneumonectomy]

Anaesthesist. 2008 Apr;57(4):355-8. doi: 10.1007/s00101-008-1343-9.
[Article in German]

Abstract

Pulmonary embolism is a rare but life-threatening complication after major lung surgery. The case of a patient with sudden onset of hemodynamic instability 2 days after right-sided pneumonectomy is reported. After finding massive right ventricular dysfunction by transthoracic echocardiography and detection of an embolism by computed tomography, a successful and uneventful thrombolysis was performed. The risks and benefits of this procedure are discussed with reference to the literature.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Electrocardiography
  • Fibrinolytic Agents / therapeutic use
  • Heparin / therapeutic use
  • Humans
  • Lung / diagnostic imaging
  • Lung / ultrastructure
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Pneumonectomy*
  • Postoperative Complications / diagnostic imaging
  • Postoperative Complications / drug therapy*
  • Pulmonary Embolism / diagnostic imaging
  • Pulmonary Embolism / drug therapy*
  • Thrombolytic Therapy*
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed
  • Ultrasonography
  • Ventricular Dysfunction, Right / complications
  • Ventricular Dysfunction, Right / therapy

Substances

  • Fibrinolytic Agents
  • Heparin