Table 1. Indications for surgical pulmonary embolectomy.

Massive or submassive PE with any of the following:

Contraindication to thrombolytic therapy

- History of intracranical hemorrhage

- Intracranial malignancy, mass, or aneurysm

- Cerebrovascular accident with the past 3 months

- Major surgery within the past 1 month

- Brain or spinal surgery within the past 2 months

Failed thrombolytic therapy

Patent foramen ovale

Pregnancy

Right heart failure or cardiogenic shock

Thrombus-in-transit within the right sided heart chambers

PE: pulmonary embolism