Surgical treatment of chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension.

Chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) is a disease characterized by a mean pulmonary artery pressure that exceeds 25 mm Hg and is caused by intraluminal thrombi organisation, stenosis and occlusions of pulmonary artery and its branches and peripheral vascular remodelation. It is a chronic complication of acute pulmonary embolism. The obstruction of pulmonary artery branches increases pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) and this leads to the right ventricular overload and right-sided heart failure. The treatment of choice is surgical pulmonary endarterectomy (PEA), a procedure that is performed in deep hypothermic cardiac arrest. The only center that specializes into the surgical treatment of patients with CTEPH in the Czech Republic is the Complex Cardiovascular Centre at the General Teaching Hospital in Prague. Between years 2004-2017 there were 314 patients opera-ted (including 50 patients from Slovakia, where this treatment is not available). Patients with peripheral type of CTEPH, who are not indicated for operation and also patients with residual pulmonary hypertension after PEA can be indicated for specific vasodilatation therapy. In indicated cases the treatment may involve the balloon angioplasty or lung transplantation.

Correction: Jansa et al. Hospitalisation Is Prognostic of Survival in Chronic Thromboembolic Pulmonary Hypertension. J. Clin. Med. 2022, 11, 6189.

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Hospitalisation Is Prognostic of Survival in Chronic Thromboembolic Pulmonary Hypertension.

This analysis investigated the prognostic value of hospitalisation in chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) using data from the Czech Republic, wherein pulmonary endarterectomy (PEA) was the only targeted treatment option until 2015. Using a landmark method, this analysis quantified the association between a first CTEPH-related hospitalisation event occurring before 3-, 6-, 9-, and 12-month landmark timepoints and subsequent all-cause mortality in adult CTEPH patients diagnosed between 2003 and 2016 in the Czech Republic. Patients were stratified into operable and inoperable, according to PEA eligibility. CTEPH-related hospitalisations were defined as non-elective. Hospitalisations related to CTEPH diagnosis, PEA, balloon pulmonary angioplasty, or clinical trial participation were excluded. Of 436 patients who survived to ≥3 months post diagnosis, 309 were operable, and 127 were inoperable. Sex- and age-adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) showed CTEPH-related hospitalisation was a statistically significant prognostic indicator of mortality at 3, 9, and 12 months in inoperable patients, with an approximately 2-fold increased risk of death in the hospitalisation group (HRs [95% CI] ranging from 1.98 [1.06-3.70] to 2.17 [1.01-4.63]). There was also a trend of worse survival probabilities in the hospitalisation groups for operable patients, with the difference most pronounced at 3 months, with a 76% increased risk of death (adjusted HR [95% CI] 1.76 [1.15-2.68]). This first analysis on the prognostic value of CTEPH-related hospitalisations demonstrates that a first CTEPH-related hospitalisation is prognostic of mortality in CTEPH, particularly for inoperable patients. These patients may benefit from medical and/or interventional therapy.

Computed tomography angiographic parameters of pulmonary artery as prognostic factors of residual pulmonary hypertension after pulmonary endarterectomy.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to retrospectively assess using computed tomography pulmonary angiography (CTPA) for predicting residual pulmonary hypertension (RPH) in patients with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) after pulmonary endarterectomy (PEA). METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed data of 131 patients with CTEPH who underwent PEA in our center (2008-2015). We measured several diameters of the pulmonary artery and thoracic aorta preoperatively. We evaluated the relationship between these measurements (and their indices) and signs of RPH represented by pulmonary artery systolic pressure (PASP) estimated by echocardiography. RESULTS: Significant correlations were observed between the aortopulmonary index and prediction of any residual hypertension and moderate/severe hypertension 1 year after PEA, and any residual hypertension and severe hypertension 2 years after PEA. The aortopulmonary index was significantly related to a reduction in PASP 1 year after the operation. A lower aortopulmonary index (≤0.88 for the ascending aorta and ≤0.64 for the descending aorta) predicted lower RPH. CONCLUSIONS: Preoperative CTPA parameters can be used to assess the risk of RPH after PEA. The aortopulmonary index has significant predictive value for RPH and a reduction in PASP after PEA. Lower values of the aortopulmonary index suggest a better outcome after PEA.

Residual pulmonary hypertension after pulmonary endarterectomy: A meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: Chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension is surgically treated through pulmonary endarterectomy. Although pulmonary endarterectomy is the treatment of choice for chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension in terms of both functional outcomes and survival, many patients experience persistent pulmonary hypertension after pulmonary endarterectomy. The study objective was to calculate the pooled estimates of outcomes after pulmonary endarterectomy, including persistent pulmonary hypertension. METHODS: Meta-analyses were conducted on published studies reporting residual/persistent/recurrent pulmonary hypertension in 4868 patients with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension after pulmonary endarterectomy. The rate of persistent pulmonary hypertension and change in mean pulmonary artery pressure, pulmonary vascular resistance, and 6-minute walk distance after pulmonary endarterectomy were outcomes of interest. RESULTS: Twenty-five percent of patients with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension were diagnosed with persistent pulmonary hypertension after pulmonary endarterectomy. Pulmonary endarterectomy reduced mean pulmonary artery pressure and pulmonary vascular resistance by approximately 21 mm Hg (standardized mean difference, 1.75; 95% confidence interval, -1.62 to 1.88; P < .00001) and 561 dyn.s/cm5 (standardized mean difference, 1.64; 95% confidence interval, -1.58 to 1.70; P < .00001), respectively. Conversely, 6-minute walk distance increased by 96 m (standardized mean difference, -0.83; 95% confidence interval, -0.91 to -0.76; P < .00001) after pulmonary endarterectomy. CONCLUSIONS: Pulmonary endarterectomy is the gold standard treatment for chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension and provides immediate correction of hemodynamic parameters in most patients. However, in up to one quarter of operable cases, pulmonary hypertension persists after surgery. In those patients with persistent pulmonary hypertension, continued medical management with newer agents may be required to improve pulmonary hemodynamics and, therefore, patient outcomes.

Chylous pericardial effusion as a rare complication after pulmonary endarterectomy.

Chylous pericardial effusion is a rare complication of cardiac surgery. We report a case of a patient who underwent pulmonary endarterectomy for chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension and was diagnosed with chylopericardium after the procedure. We present the surgical management of this condition, which included bilateral pedal lymphangiography followed by ligation of injured lymph vessel.