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Pulmonary Endarterectomy
Pulmonary endarterectomy (PEA) is a surgical procedure that removes blockages from the pulmonary arteries to treat chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH). It's the only treatment that can potentially cure CTEPH, a rare but life-threatening complication of pulmonary embolisms. PEA is considered the gold standard of care for eligible patients with CTEPH.
The procedure involves:
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A median sternotomy incision
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Attaching the patient to a heart-lung bypass machine
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Cooling the patient's body to reduce the need for oxygen
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Turning off the heart-lung machine to create a bloodless surgical field
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Opening the arteries blocked by chronic clots and scar tissue
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Repeating the on-off process until all the obstructing material is removed
