SURGICAL EMERGENCY EMBOLECTOMY FOR THE TREATMENT OF FULMINANT PULMONARY-EMBOLISM IN A PRETERM INFANT

A massive pulmonary embolism, demonstrated by echocardiography develop ed in a 3-week-old preterm infant. An etiologic explanation could not be obtained from either history or clinical and laboratory findings. P ulmonary embolectomy was performed as an emergency procedure because o f severe hemodynamic impairment despite intensive medical therapy. In children who have massive pulmonary embolism who remain in a compromis ed hemodynamic state despite intensive medical therapy, pulmonary embo lectomy may be considered the alternative emergency treatment. Copyrig ht (C) 1997 by W.B. Saunders Company.