What is a Pulmonary Endarterectomy?
Pulmonary Endarterectomy (PEA, also known as PTE) is a surgical operation in which the blood vessels of the lungs are cleared of clot and scar material. Although this sounds simple, it is actually technically very difficult to get access to the arteries of the lungs, and the procedure itself is a major undertaking. For this reason it is necessary to ensure that patients who might potentially benefit from this operation are thoroughly evaluated. Not everyone with CTEPH will be suitable for this operation, and a number of additional investigations must be performed in order to assess the appropriateness of surgery and the level of risk involved. However in a large proportion of patients who undergo this operation, their level of activity, quality of life and life expectancy are significantly improved and pulmonary endarterectomy surgery can be thought of as a cure for most patients. Prior to being accepted for surgery, you will have the opportunity to discuss the operation in detail with
