[CT angiography as the diagnostic and decision making method used for surgical indication in pulmonary hypertension due to chronic thromboembolism. Report of one case]

Rev Med Chil. 2005 May;133(5):565-9. Epub 2005 Jun 17.
[Article in Spanish]

Abstract

Pulmonary hypertension due to chronic pulmonary thromboembolism is frequently underdiagnosed and has a very poor prognosis if untreated. When the presence of central pulmonary artery thrombus is confirmed, thromboendarterectomy is the treatment of choice, with very good results. We report a 28 years old male with two previous episodes of deep venous thrombosis (DVT) who was admitted due to 8 months of progressive shortness of breath and a syncope. He underwent a CT pulmonary angiogram and an echocardiogram. Severe pulmonary hypertension was confirmed, secondary to a chronic pulmonary thromboembolism with an overlapped acute component. He received systemic thrombolysis with partial thrombus disappearance. Therefore a pulmonary thromboendarterectomy was performed and an inferior vena cava filter was placed. The patient was discharged with marked improvement in his functional capacity.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Angiography / methods
  • Chronic Disease
  • Endarterectomy
  • Humans
  • Hypertension, Pulmonary / diagnostic imaging*
  • Hypertension, Pulmonary / etiology
  • Hypertension, Pulmonary / surgery
  • Male
  • Pulmonary Embolism / complications
  • Pulmonary Embolism / diagnostic imaging*
  • Pulmonary Embolism / surgery
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed / methods*