Operability in chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension

UNLABELLED: We present the case of a 86-year-old male patient diagnosed with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) with proximal bilateral obstructions of the pulmonary arteries. The history included systemic hypertension, benign prostate adenoma and in situ colonic adenocarcinoma, cured by local radiotherapy; no prior history of thromboembolic disease was noted. The work-up comprised of a detailed analysis of pulmonary hemodynamics and right ventricular function by echocardiography and right heart catheterization, imagistic evaluation of the pulmonary circulation by contrast tomography, but also a complete evaluation of the left heart, respiratory function, neurologic status, liver and kidney function. A new colonoscopy confirmed the absence of relapse of the colonic carcinoma. The only curative therapy in proximal CTEPH is pulmonary endarterectomy, a very complex surgical procedures available in only a few centres worldwide. The case was discussed in a multidisciplinary meeting and the indications for surgery were based on exercise tolerance impairment, surgically accessible thrombi, absence of comorbidities and patient informed consent. The limits for the intervention were considered the extreme age and oncological history. The procedure was performed in Cardiovascular surgical department Timisoara, by prof. dr. Walter Klepetko and prof. dr. Marian Gappar, with good clinical and hemodinamic outcome. We present the post surgical side effects and the most important functional parameters of the follow-up. CONCLUSION: pulmonary endarterectomy should be evaluated initially in all patients diagnosed with CTEPH and the old age should not be considered an absolute contraindication if no other significant comorbidities are identified.