Abstract
Background Experience with early postoperative catheter-directed ultrasound-assisted thrombolysis
(USAT) in high-risk pulmonary embolism (PE) is limited. A first case of USAT directly
after pulmonary surgery is presented.
Case Description A 60-year-old female patient with two malignancies (triple negative breast cancer
and pulmonary squamous cell carcinoma) underwent video-assisted lobectomy. The second
postoperative day, she developed PE with hemodynamic deterioration. Note that 24 mg
of alteplase was applied by USAT. After 3 days she was successfully weaned from ventilation
and vasopressors.
Conclusion USAT for acute PE is possible after major pulmonary resections and seems promising
if reperfusion is needed.
Keywords
pulmonary embolism - lung cancer treatment (surgery, medical) - thoracic surgery
