NewYork-Presbyterian. The University Hospital of Columbia and Cornell.

Center for Acute Respiratory Failure

Pulmonary Embolectomy and Pulmonary Thromboendarterectomy Program

A NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Medical Center program led by Matthew Bacchetta, MD, MBA, MA, is offering patients an innovative procedure known as pulmonary thromboendarterectomy (PTE) to clear the pulmonary arteries of chronic blockages. NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia is the only center in the eastern United States currently offering the procedure.

Drs. Brodie & Bacchetta's
article in New England
Journal of Medicine.

Ongoing blockage of the pulmonary arteries occurs when thrombi build up in these vessels, inhibiting or blocking the path of blood flow through the lungs. The blockage may result in chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH). Depending on the size and location of the clots, CTEPH can dangerously reduce oxygenation of blood and weaken the heart. Dr. Bacchetta uses a surgical approach to clear pulmonary emboli.

More information:

• Department of Surgery web site
• Eight-Hour Surgery Removes Life-Threatening Blood Clots from 17-Year-Old's Lungs story

The center runs a
blog about ECMO.