Minimally invasive off-pump surgical pulmonary embolectomy for improved patient-centred care

Abstract

Abstract We present a complicated case of massive pulmonary embolism occurring 11 weeks after a craniotomy in a patient with multiple high-risk comorbidities. The patient underwent successful pulmonary artery surgical embolectomy via left mini-thoracotomy incision on peripheral venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation support. For this patient, avoiding a sternotomy allowed for greatly decreased postoperative morbidity and the use of venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation allowed for the avoidance of intraoperative anticoagulation. This case demonstrates the feasibility of off-pump surgical pulmonary embolectomy via left mini-thoracotomy as a treatment strategy for appropriate patients to improve patient-centred care.