Your healthcare provider will let you know how to prepare for your procedure, including whether you need to fast or stop taking any medications.
Follow your healthcare provider’s guidelines for:
You receive anesthesia for the procedure, which generally starts early in the morning and lasts for about six hours.
During PTE, your surgical team:
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After PTE, you’ll go to the intensive care unit (ICU), where you’ll remain overnight. The next morning, your medical team will give you a breathing test. If you’re able to breathe on your own, they’ll remove the ventilator.
You typically stay in the hospital for about seven to 10 days. You start your recovery in the ICU and move to an intermediate level of care as soon as possible, often the day after surgery.
Recovery is similar to recovery from open heart surgery. You may start walking within a few days and slowly start doing more. You’ll also have some tests, including a test to find out how much oxygen you’ll need after you go home.
PTE is the only way to cure chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH). The surgery is successful in most cases, leading to improved breathing, lung function and ability to be active. Most people who were on oxygen before surgery can come off after surgery, and damage to their right heart from the disease is often reversed. Long-term survival is excellent after surgery.
The risk of PTE has decreased dramatically over the last year, and the risk of not surviving the surgery is now as low as 1% in most people. The risk of stroke is 1% to 2%.
After PTE, some people will still have some degree of pulmonary hypertension, or PH that recurs, and may require medications.
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In some cases, pericardial effusion (fluid buildup around your heart) develops after surgery. You may experience:
If you experience these symptoms, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room. Talk to your healthcare provider about any other symptoms you experience after PTE.
You can get back to your regular activities over time. But you can’t drive, work or lift anything heavier than 10 pounds for at least six weeks after surgery. From week seven to week 12, you can lift up to 25 pounds. After 12 weeks, there aren’t any restrictions.
In most cases, you can return to your routine within three months of surgery. Your breathing and ability to exercise typically improve and may continue to improve for up to four years after surgery.
You need to have follow-up visits and tests to check your lungs. These tests are usually six weeks and three to six months after surgery. You also need to take anticoagulants (blood thinners) to prevent clots for the rest of your life.
Call your healthcare provider if you have:
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Pulmonary thromboendarterectomy (PTE) is surgery to remove blood clots and scar tissue from the arteries in your lungs. It can cure chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) — and potentially save your life. It’s a complex procedure that involves a recovery process similar to open heart surgery. But PTE often offers a chance to breathe better, live longer and enjoy the activities you love.
When you need heart surgery, you want the most experienced team on your side. Cleveland Clinic offers expert cardiology care and heart surgery.
Last reviewed on 07/15/2022.
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