Journal of vascular surgery
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Massive pulmonary embolism (PE), defined by systemic hypotension and need for inotropic support, has a high mortality rate. Transvenous catheter pulmonary embolectomy performed with the patient receiving local anesthetic provides an expeditious alternative to lytic therapy or open embolectomy on cardiopulmonary bypass. ⋯ Successful embolectomy was most likely for categories of major PE (4 of 4, 100%) and massive PE (27 of 33, 82%) and least likely for chronic PE (5 of 9, 56%) (p < 0.03). Successful embolectomy also predicted long-term survival (p < 0.01), which was 89 months for the series (range 1 to 237 months). Catheter pulmonary embolectomy by surgeon and radiologist is of maximal benefit for major or massive PE but less likely to benefit patients with chronic recurrent PE.