• Kayo Sugiyama, Shun Suzuki, Toshiki Fujiyoshi, Nobusato Koizumi, Masato Sato, and Hitoshi Ogino.
• Department of Cardiac Surgery, Aichi Medical University, Nagakute, Aichi, Japan.
• J Card Surg. 2019 Jun 1; 34 (6): 428-434.

BackgroundPulmonary endarterectomy (PEA) is the treatment of choice for chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) but can result in respiratory and cardiac complications that may require extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). We reviewed our experience with ECMO in patients undergoing PEA.Methods And ResultsBetween January 2012 and August 2015, 35 patients underwent PEA for CTEPH. In all, four patients (11%) required veno-arterial (V-A) ECMO support due to severe cardiac and respiratory failure, including severe reperfusion pulmonary edema and persistent pulmonary hypertension. No significant differences in preoperative characteristics were found between patients who required ECMO and those who did not require ECMO. ECMO support was associated with a significantly higher incidence of postoperative respiratory complications, a longer intensive care unit stay, increased in-hospital mortality, residual pulmonary hypertension, and postoperative balloon pulmonary angioplasty (BPA). The postoperative mean pulmonary artery pressure and pulmonary vascular resistance were significantly higher in patients requiring ECMO. All patients requiring ECMO were successfully weaned off ECMO support (100%), and three of them were discharged from the hospital alive (75%).ConclusionsPatients with CTEPH may benefit from ECMO after PEA for cardiac and respiratory complications. A prompt decision to use V-A ECMO is critical for a successful outcome in these patients.© 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

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