Embolectomy in massive acute pulmonary embolism

The case of a 57-year-old male, suffering from a microcitic meningioma, who presented with an acute massive pulmonary embolism and hemodynamic instability is presented. Given the risk of haemorrhages because of intracraneal tumor, fibrinolytic therapy was contraindicated and pulmonary embolectomy performed under general anesthesia, with conventional cannulation and moderate hypothermia. An embolus was removed from the pulmonary artery trunk and several emboli from lobar and segmental branches using a Fogarty catheter. The association between thromboembolic pathology and some tumours and the treatment of pulmonary emboli is discussed.