Clinical Results alter Pulmonary Endarterectomy as a Curative Surgical Method in Chronic Thromboembolic Pulmonary Hypertension: an Approach to Operative Classification of Thromboembolic Disease

Background: Pulmonary endarterectomy is widely accepted as a treatment for chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension. Based on our experiences, we sought to find ways to reduce perioperative complications and to improve surgical outcomes in patients undergoing pulmonary endarterectomy. Material and Method: This study was designed as a retrospective analysis of 20 patients with pulmonary hypertension who underwent pulmonary endarterectomy between January 1998 and March 2008. All patients presented with chronic dyspnea. Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) was the major cause of chronic pulmonary thromboembolism (55%). Seventeen patients (85%) underwent inferior vena cava (IVC) filter placement. Thirteen patients underwent surgery under total circulatory arrest, while the others underwent surgery while on low flow cardiopulmonary bypass. Concomitant tricuspid annuloplasty was done in 6 patients (66%) whose tricuspid regurgitation was as severe as grade IV/IV. The mean follow-up duration was $45{\pm}32$ months. Result: Using of University of California, San Diego (UCSD), thromboembolism classification, 4 patients (20%) were type 1, 8 patients (40%) were type II, and 8 patients (40%) were type III. Right ventricular systolic pressure was reduced significantly from $77{\pm}29$ mmHg to $37{\pm}19$ mmHg after pulmonary endarterectomy (p<0.001). The degree of tricuspid regurgitation and the NYHA functional class were all improved postoperatively. Reperfusion edema occurred in 7 cases (35%). The incidence of reperfusion edema was higher in the UCSD type III group than in the other group (25% vs 50%, p=0.25) and the length of postoperative intensive care unit stay was longer in type III group ($5{\pm}2$ days vs $9{\pm}7$ days, p=0.07). The early mortality rate was 10%, and the late mortality rate was 15% (n=3); one death was due to progression of underlying non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, and the other deaths were related to recurrent thromboembolism and persistent pulmonary hypertension, respectively. Conclusion: Pulmonary endarterectomy, as a curative surgical method for treating chronic thromboernbolic pulmonary hypertension, should be performed aggressively in patients diagnosed with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension, and an effort should be made to reduce the frequency of perioperative complications and to improve surgical outcomes.

만성 폐동맥 색전증의 치료로서 내막제거술의 임상적 결과: 색전증 분류에 따른 접근

배경: 만성 폐동맥 색전증에 의한 폐동맥고혈압은 내막제거술에 의해 효과적으로 치료할 수 있는 질환으로서 본원에서의 수술 경험을 분석하여 질환에 대한 이해와 이를 토대로 향후 수술적 예후를 향상시킬 수 있는 방안에 대해 알아보고자 한다. 대상 및 방법: 1998년 1월부터 2008년 3월까지 본원에서 만성 폐동맥 색전증에 의한 폐동맥 고혈압으로 내막제거술을 받은 20명을 대상으로 후향적으로 분석하였다. 주증상은 주로 호흡곤란이었고 페동맥 색전증의 원인으로는 심부혈전증 11명(55%)이 가장 많았다. 17명(85%)의 환자에서 하대정맥 필터를 삽입하였다. 수술은 완전 순환 정지하(n=13) 또는 low flow (n=7)를 유지한 상태에서 시행하였고 수술 전 삼첨판 폐쇄부전이 grade IV/IV 이상인 환자들 중 6명(66%)에서 삼첨판륜 성형술을 함께 시행하였다. 평균 추적 관찰 기간은 $45{\pm}32$개월이었다. 결과 University of California, San Diego (UCSD)분류에 따른 폐동맥 색전증의 종류는 type I이 4명 (20%), type II, III가 각각 8명(40%)씩이었고 우심실 수축기압은 수술 전 평균 $77{\pm}29$ mmHg에서 수술 직후 $37{\pm}19$ mmHg로 감소하였으며(p<0.001) 삼첨판 폐쇄부전의 정도 및 NYHA functional class 모두 수술 후 호전을 보였다. 재관류 손상은 7예(35%)로 UCSD type I, II인 환자군에 비해 type III인 환자에서 재관류 손상의 발생률이 더 높았고(25% vs 50%, p=0.25) 중환자실 재원기간도 길었다($5{\pm}2$일 vs $9{\pm}7$일, p=0.07). 조기사망은 2명(10%)이었고 만기사망은 기저질환의 악화 1명, 폐동맥 색전증의 재발 1명, 그리고 지속된 폐동맥 고혈압 1명, 모두 3명(15%)이었다. 결론: 내막제거술은 만성 폐동맥 색전증의 효과적인 수술적 치료 방법으로서 정확한 진단을 통해 적극적으로 시행하여야 하며, 수술적 예후를 향상시킬 수 있도록 더욱 노력해야 할 것이다.