Long-term outcome prediction for chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension after pulmonary endarterectomy

Abstract

Background: The definitive treatment for chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) is pulmonary endarterectomy (PEA), which has good long-term outcomes. However, after surgery, a quarter of the patients still have residual pulmonary hypertension (RPH). In pulmonary hemodynamics, there are no unified criteria for RPH, even though the level may affect long-term survival. Methods: Between March 1997 and December 2021, 253 CTEPH patients were treated at our center with PEA. Patients were evaluated retrospectively and classified into early (1997–2014) and late (2015–2021) groups. The clinical characteristics and perioperative outcomes of the two groups were compared, and risk factor analysis for RPH and long-term survival for all cases was performed. Results: There was no statistically significant difference in demographics between the two groups. However, the Early Group had a significantly higher rate of perioperative death (9.8% vs. 1.2%, p =.001), RPH (48.8% vs. 14.0%, p