ObjectiveTo summarize the clinical characteristics and the long-term results of pulmonary thromboendarterectomy (PTE) in the chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) patients with unilateral main pulmonary artery occlusion.MethodsWe retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 15 CTEPH patients with unilateral main pulmonary artery occlusion in Fuwai Hospital between 2004 and 2018. There were 11 males and 4 females aged 34.1±12.0 years at operation.ResultsThe mean circulatory arrest was 31.1±12.1 minutes. The ICU stay was 5 (2-29) d. The hospital stay was 15 (8-29) d. There was no hospital death. There was a decline in systolic pulmonary artery pressures (sPAP, 69.9±27.9 mm Hg to 35.1±9.7 mm Hg, P=0.020) after surgery. On postoperative V/Q scan, only 6 patients (40.0%) had significant improvement in reperfusion (≥75% estimated) of the occluded lung. There was no death during the median observation period of 49 months follow-up, while 2 patients had recurrence of pulmonary embolism.ConclusionCTEPH patients with unilateral main pulmonary artery occlusion represent a challenging cohort. PTE is a curative resolution in both early- and long- term results, although there is a high requirement of perioperative management and a high risk of postoperative complications and rethrombosis.
ObjectiveTo describe the effect of sequential pulmonary balloon angioplasty for patients with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension, who was accompanied with progressed pulmonary hypertension after pulmonary endarterectomy surgeries.MethodsFrom 2014 to December 2017, 7 patients were treated with a combination therapy of pulmonary endarterectomy and sequential pulmonary balloon angioplasty. There were 1 male and 6 females at age of 58 (43–59) years. A follow-up period of more than 1 year was accomplished. The result of right sided heart catheterization and ultrasonic cardiogram between and after the pulmonary endarterectomy or balloon angioplasty was collected.ResultsSeven patients were treated with a combination of pulmonary endarterectomy and sequential pulmonary balloon angioplasty, which included 1 patient of single pulmonary balloon angioplasty and 6 patients of multiple pulmonary balloon angioplasties. The balloon dilation times was 2 (2–6), and the number of segments during each single balloon dilatation was 3–5, compared with the first clinical results before the first balloon dilation, systolic pulmonary artery pressure [53 (47–75) mm Hg vs. 45 (40–54) mm Hg, P=0.042), mean pulmonaryartery pressure [38 (29–47) mm Hg vs. 29 (25–39) mm Hg, P=0.043], N terminal-B type natriuretic peptide [1 872 (1 598–2 898) pg/ml vs. 164 (72–334) pg/ml, P=0.018] improved significantly after the last balloon angioplasty. Heart function classification (NYHA) of all the 7 patients were recovered to Ⅰ-Ⅱclasses (P<0.05).ConclusionSequential pulmonary balloon angioplasty after pulmonary endarterectomy can further reduce the patient's right heart after load, improve the heart function for patients with progressed pulmonary hypertension after pulmonary endarterectomy surgeries.