Impact of nurse-initiated ED sepsis protocol on compliance with sepsis bundles, time to initial antibiotic administration, and in-hospital mortality.

INTRODUCTION: Emergency nurses play a key role in the initial triage and care of patients with potentially life-threatening illnesses. The aims of this study were to (1) evaluate the impact of a nurse-initiated ED sepsis protocol on time to initial antibiotic administration, (2) ascertain compliance with 3-hour Surviving Sepsis Campaign (SSC) targets, and (3) identify predictors of in-hospital sepsis mortality. METHODS: A retrospective chart review investigated all adult patients-admitted through either of 2 academic tertiary medical center emergency departments-who were discharged with a diagnosis of severe sepsis or septic shock (N = 195). Pre- and post-protocol implementation data examined both compliance with 3-hour SSC bundle targets and patient outcomes. Multivariate logistic regression analysis identified predictors of in-hospital mortality. RESULTS: Serum lactate measurement (83.9% vs 98.7%, P = .003) and median time to initial antibiotic administration (135 minutes vs 108 minutes, P = .021) improved significantly after protocol implementation. However, one quarter of antibiotic administration times still exceeded the 3-hour target. Significant predictors of in-hospital mortality were respiratory dysfunction, central nervous system dysfunction, urinary tract infection, vasopressor administration, and patient body weight (P < .05). There were no in-hospital mortality rate differences between the pre- and post-protocol implementation groups. DISCUSSION: Compliance with serum lactate measurement and blood culture collection goals approached 100% in the post-protocol group. However, compliance with medical interventions requiring multiple health care-provider involvement (ie, antibiotic and fluid administration) remained suboptimal. Efforts focused on multidisciplinary bundle elements are necessary to achieve full compliance with SSC targets.

Distal vessel pulmonary thromboendarterectomy: Results from a single institution.

BACKGROUND: Chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) is primarily managed by pulmonary thromboendarterectomy (PTE). As advanced surgical techniques permit resection at the segmental and subsegmental level, PTE can now be curative for CTEPH mostly involving the distal pulmonary arteries. METHODS: Between January 2017 and June 2021, consecutive patients undergoing PTE were categorized according to the most proximal level of chronic thrombus resection: Level I (main pulmonary artery), Level II (lobar), Level III (segmental) and Level IV (subsegmental). Proximal disease patients (any Level I or II) were compared to distal disease (Level III or IV bilaterally) patients. Demographics, medical history, preoperative pulmonary hemodynamics, and immediate postoperative outcomes were obtained for each group. RESULTS: During the study period, 794 patients underwent PTE, 563 with proximal disease and 231 with distal disease. Patients with distal disease more frequently had a history of an indwelling intravenous device, splenectomy, upper extremity thrombosis or use thyroid replacement and less often had prior lower extremity thrombosis or hypercoagulable state. Despite more use of PAH-targeted medications in the distal disease group (63.2% vs 50.1%, p < 0.001), preoperative hemodynamics were similar. Both patient groups exhibited significant improvements in pulmonary hemodynamics postoperatively with comparable in-hospital mortality rates. Compared to proximal disease, a lower percentage of patients with distal disease showed residual pulmonary hypertension (3.1% vs 6.9%, p = 0.039) and airway hemorrhage (3.0% vs 6.6%, p = 0.047) postoperatively. CONCLUSIONS: Thromboendarterectomy for distal (segmental and subsegmental) CTEPH is technically feasible and may result in favorable pulmonary hemodynamic outcomes, without increased mortality or morbidity.

Evaluation of Routine Coronary Angiography Before Pulmonary Thromboendarterectomy.

BACKGROUND: At the University of California, San Diego, routine coronary angiography has generally been performed in men 40 years of age and older and women 45 years of age and older before pulmonary thromboendarterectomy for chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH). The prevalence of significant coronary artery disease (CAD) in this population has not been evaluated, however, and the optimal screening strategy has not been established. This study sought to evaluate whether the current approach may be better optimized on the basis of cardiac risk factors. METHODS: This study included 462 consecutive patients with CTEPH who were undergoing preoperative coronary angiography for pulmonary thromboendarterectomy. Baseline demographic and medical information was recorded. Major cardiac risk factors included: diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, body mass index 25 kg/m2 or greater, tobacco use, and family history of CAD. Charts were then reviewed for presence of significant CAD and revascularization. RESULTS: Significant CAD was found in 13.4% of patients who underwent routine preoperative coronary angiography; it was present in only 5% of patients younger than 50 years of age, compared with 16% of patients 50 years old and older. No patient younger than 50 years of age without cardiac risk factors was found to have significant CAD. Furthermore, in patients younger than 50 years of age, significant CAD was found only among those with 3 or more major risk factors. CONCLUSIONS: In patients younger than 50 years of age with CTEPH, the prevalence of significant CAD was low. Omitting preoperative coronary angiography in this subset of patients is reasonable when no coronary risk factors are present. Preoperative coronary angiography is warranted in individuals 50 years of age and older, as well as in those younger than 50 years who have significant risk factors for CAD.

Pulmonary hypertensive medical therapy in chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension before pulmonary thromboendarterectomy.

BACKGROUND: The currently recommended treatment for chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension is pulmonary thromboendarterectomy (PTE). No convincing evidence for the use of pulmonary hypertensive medical therapy (PHT) exists in operable candidates. We sought to determine the prevalence of the use of PHT on referral for PTE and the effects on pre-PTE hemodynamics and post-PTE outcomes/hemodynamics. METHODS AND RESULTS: We performed a retrospective analysis of chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension patients referred for PTE during 2005-2007. The prevalence of PHT was determined for all patients referred to our institution. Hemodynamic and outcomes analysis involved only those undergoing PTE. Data included baseline demographics, PHT medication(s), dosage, duration of therapy, and time to referral. Hemodynamic data were acquired from the time of diagnosis, the time of referral visit, and after PTE. Outcomes included intensive care unit, hospital, and ventilator days; bleeding and infection rates; incidence of reperfusion lung injury; and in-hospital mortality. The control group (n=244) was compared with the PHT group (n=111); subgroups included monotherapy with bosentan, sildenafil, or epoprostenol and combination therapy. The prevalence of PHT significantly increased from 19.9% in 2005 to 37% in 2007. There was minimal benefit of treatment with PHT on pre-PTE mean pulmonary artery pressure, but its use was associated with a significant delay in time to referral for PTE. Both groups experienced significant improvements in hemodynamic parameters after PTE. The 2 groups did not differ significantly in any post-PTE outcome. Similar results were obtained for each subgroup. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that PHT use has minimal effect on pre-PTE hemodynamics and no effect on post-PTE outcomes/hemodynamics.

Chronic Thromboembolic Pulmonary Hypertension: JACC Focus Seminar.

Chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) is the result of pulmonary arterial obstruction by organized thrombotic material stemming from incompletely resolved acute pulmonary embolism. The exact incidence of CTEPH is unknown but appears to approximate 2.3% among survivors of acute pulmonary embolism. Although ventilation/perfusion scintigraphy has been supplanted by computed tomographic pulmonary angiography in the diagnostic approach to acute pulmonary embolism, it has a major role in the evaluation of patients with suspected CTEPH, the presence of mismatched segmental defects being consistent with the diagnosis. Diagnostic confirmation of CTEPH is provided by digital subtraction pulmonary angiography, preferably performed at a center familiar with the procedure and its interpretation. Operability assessment is then undertaken to determine if the patient is a candidate for potentially curative pulmonary endarterectomy surgery. When pulmonary endarterectomy is not an option, pulmonary arterial hypertension-targeted pharmacotherapy and balloon pulmonary angioplasty represent potential therapeutic alternatives.

Chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension.

The last 4 decades have witnessed dramatic changes in the treatment of patients with pulmonary hypertension. And with the advances in cardiothoracic surgical techniques, selected patients with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) are afforded a surgical remedy for their disease. In the vast majority of these patients, surgical endarterectomy of chronic thromboemboli from the pulmonary vascular bed effectively treats even severe pulmonary hypertension, and as a result, the debilitating symptoms of right heart dysfunction. This article reviews the natural history of chronic thromboembolic disease and outline a suggested diagnostic approach to determine whether a patient with chronic thromboembolic disease might be an appropriate surgical candidate. Pulmonary thromboendarterectomy surgery, and the growing information on the use of pharmacotherapy in inoperable CTEPH, are also reviewed.

Chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension.

The description of organized thrombus in major pulmonary arteries can be found in autopsy reports dating back to the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Not until the 1950s was the antemortem diagnosis and clinical syndrome of chronic thrombotic obstruction of the major pulmonary arteries better characterized. The first surgical attempt to remove the adherent thrombus from the vessel wall occurred in 1958. This operation provided the conceptual foundation for the distinction between acute and chronic thromboembolic disease of the pulmonary vascular bed, and established that an endarterectomy, and not an embolectomy, would be necessary if a surgical remedy for this disease was to be successful.

Postoperative management of the patient undergoing pulmonary endarterectomy.

The postoperative care of the patient undergoing pulmonary endarterectomy presents challenges that occur not only with other types of cardiac surgery but also with significant respiratory system changes related to alterations in pulmonary blood flow. Postoperative mortality associated with this procedure has declined substantially over the years as a consequence of improved evaluative procedures and selective surgical referral, advances in surgical technique, and an understanding of the unique postoperative complications that may occur. However, postoperative acute lung injury and residual pulmonary hypertension continue to represent major causes of mortality associated with this procedure and represent areas where additional investigative efforts are necessary. Here we describe the unique hemodynamic and respiratory changes that occur in the postoperative pulmonary endarterectomy patient and an evidence-based approach to their optimal management.

Does lowering pulmonary arterial pressure eliminate severe functional tricuspid regurgitation? Insights from pulmonary thromboendarterectomy.

OBJECTIVES: Because pulmonary thromboendarterectomy (PTE) can result in an immediate reduction in pulmonary artery (PA) pressure, we sought to evaluate the effect of PTE on severe tricuspid regurgitation (TR) without tricuspid annuloplasty. BACKGROUND: Few data exist regarding the frequency and magnitude of functional TR improvement after reduction in PA pressure. METHODS: We identified 27 patients with severe TR, defined by a regurgitant index (RI) >33%, who underwent PTE. The RI, tricuspid annular diameter (TAD), apical displacement of leaflet coaptation, and estimated PA systolic pressure were determined on pre- and post-PTE echocardiograms. Patients were stratified based on resolution (RI < or =33%) or persistence (RI >33%) of severe TR. RESULTS: Comparing pre- and post-PTE echocardiography results, severe TR resolved in 19 of 27 (70%) patients. This group had a more effective PA systolic pressure reduction after PTE (49 +/- 20 mm Hg vs. 32 +/- 16 mm Hg by echocardiography, p = 0.075, and 37 +/- 16 mm Hg vs. 16 +/- 13 mm Hg by catheter measurement, p = 0.004). No difference was observed in TAD, apical displacement of the tricuspid valve, or other features compared with the group with persistent severe TR. There was a trend toward longer hospital stays in the group with persistent severe TR (19 +/- 15 days vs. 14 +/- 9 days; p = 0.55). CONCLUSIONS: After significant PA pressure reduction by PTE, severe functional TR with a dilated annulus may improve without annuloplasty despite dilated tricuspid annulus diameters.

Prevalence of coronary artery-pulmonary artery collaterals in patients with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension.

This study sought to determine the prevalence of coronary artery-pulmonary artery collaterals in patients with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) and to correlate their presence with the degree of clot burden. CTEPH is a treatable cause of severe pulmonary hypertension and right heart failure. Bronchopulmonary collateral vessels have been used as a supplementary diagnostic and prognostic tool for this disease. Coronary artery-pulmonary artery collaterals in this population have not been described. The coronary angiograms of 300 consecutive patients with CTEPH evaluated for pulmonary thromboendarterectomy (PTE) between January 1, 2007, and May 1, 2014, were examined. Of these patients, 259 (50% male; mean age, 58.3 ± 10.6 years) had cineangiographic images deemed adequate to definitively assess for the presence of coronary artery-pulmonary artery collaterals and were included in the final analyses. Pulmonary angiogram reports were reviewed for extent of pulmonary artery obstruction. The coronary angiograms of 259 age- and sex-matched control patients were also examined. Among 259 CTEPH patients with definitive imaging, 34 coronary artery-pulmonary artery collaterals were found in 28 patients (10.8%), versus 1 coronary artery-pulmonary artery collateral among control subjects (0.4%; P < 0.001). Compared with CTEPH patients without collaterals, patients with collaterals had a significantly higher prevalence of total occlusion of their right or left main pulmonary artery (P < 0.001) or lobar arteries (P < 0.001). In conclusion, the prevalence of coronary artery-pulmonary artery collaterals in CTEPH patients undergoing coronary angiography for possible PTE is approximately 11%. These vessels are associated with more severe pulmonary artery occlusion.

Efficacy of a Low-Tidal Volume Ventilation Strategy to Prevent Reperfusion Lung Injury after Pulmonary Thromboendarterectomy.

RATIONALE: Reperfusion lung injury is a postoperative complication of pulmonary thromboendarterectomy that can significantly affect morbidity and mortality. Studies in other postoperative patient populations have demonstrated a reduction in acute lung injury with the use of a low-tidal volume (Vt) ventilation strategy. Whether this approach benefits patients undergoing thromboendarterectomy is unknown. OBJECTIVES: We sought to determine if low-Vt ventilation reduces reperfusion lung injury in patients with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension undergoing thromboendarterectomy. METHODS: Patients undergoing thromboendarterectomy at one center were randomized to receive either low (6 ml/kg predicted body weight) or usual care Vts (10 ml/kg) from the initiation of mechanical ventilation in the operating room through Postoperative Day 3. The primary endpoint was the onset of reperfusion lung injury. Secondary outcomes included severity of hypoxemia, days on mechanical ventilation, and intensive care unit and hospital lengths of stay. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: A total of 128 patients were enrolled and included in the analysis; 63 were randomized to the low-Vt group and 65 were randomized to the usual care group. There was no statistically significant difference in the incidence of reperfusion lung injury between groups (32%, n=20 in the low-Vt group vs. 23%, n=15 in the usual care group; P=0.367). Although differences were noted in plateau pressures (17.9 cm H2O vs. 20.1 cm H2O, P<0.001) and peak inspiratory pressures (20.4 cm H2O vs. 23.0 cm H2O, P<0.001) between the low-Vt and usual care groups, respectively, mean airway pressures, PaO2/FiO2, days on mechanical ventilation, and ICU and hospital lengths of stay were all similar between groups. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension undergoing pulmonary thromboendarterectomy, intra- and postoperative ventilation using low Vts (6 mg/kg) compared with usual care Vts (10 mg/kg) does not reduce the incidence of reperfusion lung injury or improve clinical outcomes. Clinical trial registered with www.clinicaltrials.gov (NCT00747045).

Pulmonary artery sarcoma: a case report of surgical cure and 5-year follow-up.

Pulmonary artery sarcoma is a rare tumor that is frequently misdiagnosed as chronic pulmonary embolism. With heightened clinical awareness and advancement in technology, the diagnosis is now increasingly being made preoperatively. Previous literature has described the disease to be uniformly fatal, with surgical resection as the single most effective modality for short-term palliation. We present the case of a patient in whom pulmonary artery sarcoma was diagnosed preoperatively and who underwent surgical resection with no evidence of recurrence during long-term follow-up, suggesting that early identification and aggressive surgical intervention has the potential to be curative.

Pulmonary endarterectomy: experience and lessons learned in 1,500 cases.

BACKGROUND: The incidence of pulmonary hypertension resulting from chronic thrombotic occlusion of the pulmonary arteries is significantly underestimated. Although medical therapy for the condition is supportive only, surgical therapy is curative. Our pulmonary endarterectomy program was begun in 1970, and 188 patients were operated on in the subsequent 20 years. With the increased recognition of the disease and the success of operative therapy, however, more than 1,400 operations have been done since 1990 at our center. METHODS: The safety and efficacy of the operation was assessed with changes made through increased experience. We examined in detail the results of our last 500 consecutive patients. RESULTS: Median sternotomy, cardiopulmonary bypass, profound hypothermia, and circulatory arrest were found to be essential to the success of the operation. All occluding material could be removed at operation. We currently believe that there is no degree of embolic occlusion within the pulmonary vascular tree that is inaccessible and no degree of right ventricular impairment or any level of pulmonary vascular resistance that is inoperable. With shorter cardiac arrest periods and the use of a cooling jacket to the head, cerebral impairment has been eliminated. The pulmonary artery pressures and pulmonary vascular resistance in a recent cohort of 500 patients is examined. The mortality rate for the operation has been reduced steadily, and was 22 of the last 500 patients operated on (4.4%). CONCLUSIONS: The operation is considered curative and therefore greatly superior to transplantation for this condition. Current techniques of operation make the procedure relatively safe.

Chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension.

During the past 2 decades, there has been a steady rise in the number of patients with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) undergoing surgery and in the number of programs worldwide dedicated to the diagnosis and management of this patient population. This article discusses the natural history and clinical presentation of CTEPH, the evaluation of patients for pulmonary thromboendarterectomy, and the outcomes following surgery, along with a brief review of the procedure as performed at the University of California, San Diego.

Comparison of impedance cardiography to direct Fick and thermodilution cardiac output determination in pulmonary arterial hypertension.

Cardiac output (CO) is an important diagnostic and prognostic tool for patients with ventricular dysfunction. Pulmonary hypertension patients undergo invasive right heart catheterization to determine pulmonary vascular and cardiac hemodynamics. Thermodilution (TD) and direct Fick method are the most common methods of CO determination but are costly and may be associated with complications. The latest generation of impedance cardiography (ICG) provides noninvasive estimation of CO and is now validated. The purpose of this study was to compare ICG measurement of CO to TD and direct Fick in pulmonary hypertension patients. Thirty-nine enrolled patients were analyzed: 44% were male and average age was 50.8+/-17.4 years. Results for bias and precision of cardiac index were as follows: ICG vs. Fick (-0.13 L/min/m2 and 0.46 L/min/m2), TD vs. Fick (0.10 L/min/m2 and 0.41 L/min/m2), ICG vs. TD (respectively, with a 95% level of agreement between -0.72 and 0.92 L/min/m2; CO correlation of ICG vs. Fick, TD vs. Fick, and ICG vs. TD was 0.84, 0.89, and 0.80, respectively). ICG provides an accurate, useful, and cost-effective method for determining CO in pulmonary hypertension patients, and is a potential tool for following responses to therapeutic interventions.

Baseline body mass index does not significantly affect outcomes after pulmonary thromboendarterectomy.

BACKGROUND: Obesity is a common comorbidity of patients with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension referred for pulmonary thromboendarterectomy, yet the effect of obesity on pulmonary thromboendarterectomy outcomes has not been well described. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective cohort study in which 476 consecutive operations over a 3.5-year period were examined to determine the effects of obesity on outcomes. Patients were grouped into four categories based on body mass index (BMI): less than 22 kg/m2, 22 to 30 kg/m2, 30 to 40 kg/m2, and more than 40 kg/m2. RESULTS: There were important differences in baseline pulmonary hemodynamics, with obese patients having significantly lower pulmonary vascular resistances than nonobese patients. All patients achieved a significant reduction in pulmonary vascular resistance, although the improvement was greatest in the lower BMI groups. The overall in-hospital mortality was 0.8%, and there were no differences in risk among BMI groups. Among the BMI groups, there were no differences in incidence of postoperative complications, including atrial fibrillation (overall 24.8%), reperfusion lung injury (overall 23.1%), and surgical site infection (overall 4.4%) or in median lengths of stay (including ventilator days, intensive care unit days, and postoperative length of stay). CONCLUSIONS: Pulmonary thromboendarterectomy outcomes have continued to improve, and this surgery can safely be completed in obese patients, previously deemed to be at high risk for poor outcomes.

Evaluation of patients with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension for pulmonary endarterectomy.

Pulmonary hypertension as a result of chronic thromboembolic disease (CTEPH) is potentially curable with pulmonary endarterectomy surgery. Consequently, correctly diagnosing patients with this type of pulmonary hypertension and evaluating these patients with the goal of establishing their candidacy for surgical intervention is of utmost importance. And as advancements in surgical techniques have allowed successful resection of segmental-level chronic thromboembolic disease, the number of CTEPH patients that are deemed suitable surgical candidates has expanded, making it even more important that the evaluation be conducted with greater precision. This article will review a diagnostic approach to patients with suspected chronic thromboembolic disease with an emphasis on the criteria considered in selecting patients for pulmonary endarterectomy surgery.

Pulmonary endarterectomy: recent changes in a single institution's experience of more than 2,700 patients.

BACKGROUND: Chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) is a known sequela of acute pulmonary embolic disease and yet remains underdiagnosed. Although nonsurgical options for patients with CTEPH have become increasingly available, including pulmonary artery hypertensive medical therapy, surgical endarterectomy provides the most appropriate intervention as a potential cure for this debilitating disorder. This article summarizes the most recent outcomes of pulmonary endarterectomy at a single institution over the past 12 years, with emphasis on the surgical approach to segmental-level chronic thromboembolic disease. METHODS: More than 2,700 pulmonary endarterectomy operations have been performed at the University of California, San Diego Medical Center. Because of recent changes in the patient population and in surgical results, 1,500 patients with symptomatic chronic thromboembolic disease who underwent pulmonary endarterectomy between March 1999 and December 2010 were analyzed. The outcomes for the more recent 500 patients, compared with the previous 1,000 were studied. RESULTS: In-hospital mortality for the cohort of 1,000 patients (group 1) was 5.2% compared with 2.2% for the last 500 operations (group 2) (p < 0.01). There was no mortality in the last 260 consecutive patients undergoing isolated pulmonary endarterectomy. More patients presented with segmental type III disease in the more recent 500 patients (21.4% versus 13.1%; p < 0.001). Between the 2 patient groups, there was a comparable decline in pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) (group 1: 861.2 ± 446.2 to 94.8 ± 204.2 dynes/sec/cm(-5); group 2: 719.0 ± 383.2 to 253.4 ± 148.6 dynes/sec/cm(-5)) and mean pulmonary artery (PA) pressures (group 1: 46.1 ± 11.4 to 28.7 ± 10.1 mm Hg; group 2: 45.5 ± 11.6 to 26.0 ± 8.4 mm Hg) after endarterectomy. CONCLUSIONS: Despite a patient population with more distal disease, results continue to improve. Pulmonary endarterectomy for patients with CTEPH results in significant pulmonary hemodynamic improvement, with favorable outcomes achievable even in patients with distal segmental-level chronic thromboembolic disease.

Efficacy of methylprednisolone in preventing lung injury following pulmonary thromboendarterectomy.

BACKGROUND: We sought to determine the efficacy and safety of perioperative treatment with methylprednisolone on the development of lung injury after pulmonary thromboendarterectomy. METHODS: This was a randomized, prospective, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of 98 adult patients with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension who were undergoing pulmonary thromboendarterectomy at a single institution. The patients received either placebo (n = 47) or methylprednisolone (n = 51) (30 mg/kg in the cardiopulmonary bypass prime, 500 mg IV bolus following the final circulatory arrest, and 250 mg IV bolus 36 h after surgery). The primary end point was the presence of lung injury as determined by two independent, blinded physicians using prospectively defined criteria. The secondary end points included ventilator-free, ICU-free, and hospital-free days and selected levels of cytokines in the blood and in BAL fluid. RESULTS: The incidence of lung injury was similar in both treatment groups (45% placebo, 41% steroid; P = .72). There were no statistical differences in the secondary clinical end points between treatment groups. Treatment with methylprednisolone, compared with placebo, was associated with a statistically significant reduction in plasma IL-6 and IL-8, a significant increase in plasma IL-10, and a significant reduction in postoperative IL-1ra and IL-6, but not IL-8 in BAL fluid obtained 1 day after surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Perioperative methylprednisolone does not reduce the incidence of lung injury following pulmonary thromboendarterectomy surgery despite having an antiinflammatory effect on plasma and lavage cytokine levels.