Acute Pulmonary Embolism in SARS-CoV-2 Infection Treated With Surgical Embolectomy

A cluster of pneumonia cases caused by the novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has spread rapidly throughout China, Europe, and the United States. The pneumonia might evolve to acute respiratory distress syndrome, requiring assisted mechanical ventilation. The prolonged immobilization combined with respiratory failure, sepsis, and dehydration might expose SARS-CoV-2 patients to increased risk of complication, including pulmonary embolism. We report a case of SARS-CoV-2 complicated by a massive pulmonary embolism in a patient who underwent successful surgical embolectomy. We believe that maintaining the same proactive attitude suggested by current European Society of Cardiology and European Respiratory Society guidelines might help in reducing morality and improving survival in SARS-COV-2 patients. (C) 2020 by The Society of Thoracic Surgeons