Choledochoscope-guided treatment of pulmonary embolism caused by ventricular myxoma

A 33-year male patient presented with a 6-month history of cough and shortness of breath upon physical activity. Echocardiography demonstrated right ventricular space-occupying lesions. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography of the chest showed multiple emboli in the pulmonary artery and its branches. Right ventricle tumor (myxoma) resection, tricuspid valve replacement, and clearance of the pulmonary artery thrombus were performed under cardiopulmonary bypass. Minimally invasive forceps and balloon urinary catheters were used to clear the thrombus. Clearance was confirmed by direct visualization using a choledochoscope. The patient recovered well and was discharged. The patient was prescribed oral warfarin 3 mg/day, and the international normalized ratio for prothrombin time was maintained between 2.0 and 3.0. Pre-discharge echocardiogram showed no lesion in the right ventricle or pulmonary arteries. The 6-month follow-up echocardiography indicated that the tricuspid valve was functioning well and showed no thrombus in the pulmonary artery.

Acute Management of High-Risk and Intermediate-Risk Pulmonary Embolism in Children: A Review

Severe forms of pulmonary embolism (PE) in children, althought rare, cause significant morbidity and mortality. We review the pathophysiologic features of severe (high-risk and intermediate-risk) PE and suggest novel pediatric-specific risk stratifications and an acute treatment algorithm to expedite emergent decision-making. We defined pediatric high-risk PE as causing cardiopulmonary arrest, sustained hypotension, or normotension with signs or symptoms of shock. Rapid primary reperfusion should be pursued with either surgical embolectomy or systemic thrombolysis in conjunction with a heparin infusion and supportive care as appropriate. We defined pediatric intermediate-risk PE as a lack of systemic hypotension or compensated shock, but with evidence of right ventricular strain by imaging, myocardial necrosis by elevated cardiac troponin levels, or both. The decision to pursue primary reperfusion in this group is complex and should be reserved for patients with more severe disease; anticoagulation alone also may be appropriate in these patients. If primary reperfusion is pursued, catheter-based therapies may be beneficial. Acute management of severe PE in children may include systemic thrombolysis, surgical embolectomy, catheter-based therapies, or anticoagulation alone and may depend on patient and institutional factors. Pediatric emergency and intensive care physicians should be familiar with the risks and benefits of each therapy to expedite care. PE response teams also may have added benefit in streamlining care during these critical events.

Flexible fibre optic bronchoscopy as angioscope to ascertain completeness of pulmonary embolectomy: surgery for pulmonary embolism-how I do it

Rarely pulmonary embolectomy has also been used as a salvage procedure for acute right ventricle (RV) dysfunction following acute pulmonary embolism (APE). Complete surgical removal of thromboembolus in acute pulmonary thromboembolism is an essential pre-requisite for good outcome. Complete clearance of thromboembolic load from pulmonary arterial tree is difficult to assess intraoperatively. We hereby describe the use of flexible fibre optic bronchoscope (FFB) as angioscope to visualise the pulmonary arterial tree intraoperatively. Angioscopy ascertains the complete clearance up to subsegmental level after thromboembolectomy and aids in the removal of residual thrombus or embolus. Herein, we describe a case series of two patients, where FFB was used as angioscope during surgery for APE.

Comparison of septic and nonseptic pulmonary embolism in children

BACKGROUND

Septic pulmonary embolism (SPE) in children is a rare disease. Data are scarce regarding the clinical and laboratory manifestation of SPE compared with nonseptic pulmonary embolism (ns-PE). Furthermore, specific guidelines for the management of SPE in children are lacking.

AIM

We compared the clinical course and outcome of children with SPE and ns-PE.

METHODS

A retrospective, cohort study of hospitalized children, 2005-2020, with documented pulmonary embolism imaging.

RESULTS

Sixteen children (eight SPE, eight ns-PE) were identified. Episodes of SPE occurred secondary to endocarditis, musculoskeletal and soft tissue infections, with Staphylococcus aureus (n = 4) and streptococcus spp. (n = 2) as the most common pathogens. Radiographically, SPE presented as a microvascular disease with parenchymatic nodules/cavitations, whereas ns-PE presented as larger vessel disease with filling defects. Risk factors (including thrombophilia) were noted in 0% and 87.5% of SPE and ns-PE patients, respectively (p < .01). Pulmonary embolism diagnosis was delayed in SPE compared with ns-PE (median: 8.5 days vs. 1 day). The SPE group had higher rates of fever (100% vs. 12.5%, p < .01), C-reactive protein (CRP levels; 18.49 vs. 4.37 mg/dl, p = .02), and fibrinogen levels (880 vs. 467 mg/dl, p < .001). Antithrombotic treatment for >4 months was administrated to 14.3% and 87.5% of SPE and ns-PE patients, respectively (p < .01). One ns-PE patient had a second thromboembolic event compared to none in the SPE group.

CONCLUSIONS

SPE in children is a unique subgroup of PE with different clinical and laboratory findings that requires a different diagnostic approach and probably shorter duration of antithrombotic treatment.

Pediatric In-Hospital Cardiac Arrest Secondary to Acute Pulmonary Embolism

OBJECTIVES

Pulmonary embolism is a rarely reported and potentially treatable cause of cardiac arrest in children and adolescents. The objective of this case series is to describe the course of five adolescent patients with in-hospital cardiac arrest secondary to pulmonary embolism.

DESIGN

Case series.

SETTING

Single, large academic children's hospital.

PATIENTS

All patients under the age of 18 years (n = 5) who experienced an in-hospital cardiac arrest due to apparent pulmonary embolism from August 1, 2013, to July 31, 2017.

INTERVENTIONS

All five patients received systemic thrombolytic therapy (IV tissue plasminogen activator) during cardiac arrest or periarrest during ongoing resuscitation efforts.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

Five adolescent patients, 15-17 years old, were treated for pulmonary embolism-related cardiac arrests during the study period. These accounted for 6.3% of all children and 25% of adolescents (12-17 yr old) receiving at least 5 minutes of in-hospital cardiopulmonary resuscitation during the study period. All five had venous thromboembolism risk factors. Two patients had known, extensive venous thrombi at the time of cardiac arrest, and one was undergoing angiography at the time of arrest. The diagnoses of pulmonary embolism were based on clinical suspicion, bedside echocardiography (n = 4), and low end-tidal CO2 levels relative to arterial CO2 values (n = 5). IV tissue plasminogen activator was administered during cardiopulmonary resuscitation in three patients and after the return of spontaneous circulation, in the setting of severe hemodynamic instability, in the other two patients. Four of five patients were successfully resuscitated and survived to hospital discharge.

CONCLUSIONS

Pulmonary embolism was recognized as the etiology of multiple adolescent cardiac arrests in this single-center series and may be more common than previously reported. Recognition, high-quality cardiopulmonary resuscitation, and treatment with thrombolytic therapy resulted in survival in four of five patients.

Salvage pulmonary thromboembolectomy for massive pulmonary embolism in a child presented with syncope and subsequent cardiac arrest

Pulmonary embolism is frequently under-recognised in children and, therefore, a high index of suspicion should be exerted on patients with exertional dyspnoea, presyncope/syncope and unexplained cardiopulmonary arrest. We discuss a 10-year-old previously healthy girl who presented with syncope and subsequent cardiac arrest related to massive pulmonary embolism and was salvaged successfully by emergent pulmonary embolectomy.