What Is PTE?
Pulmonary thromboendarterectomy (PTE) is a surgical procedure for patients who have chronic thrombo-embolic disease (CTEPH), that is, scar tissue in the lining of the pulmonary arteries caused by blood clots. This scar tissue causes blockages in the pulmonary arteries, which are the blood vessels that carry blood from the heart to the lungs. The result is a partial or complete blockage of blood through parts of the lungs.
Normally the heart and lungs work together. All of the blood that has been used by the body is returned to the right atrium (RA) on the right side of the heart through a system of veins. From the right atrium, the blood travels through the tricuspid valve to the right ventricle (RV) or pumping chamber. The job of the right ventricle is to pump blood a very short distance to the lungs through the pulmonary artery.
The primary purpose of the lungs is to supply oxygen to the blood and to remove carbon dioxide. This function is carried out by a system of branching air tubes which bring air in and out of the lungs and a system of blood vessels (pulmonary arteries) which bring blood to the lungs. The pulmonary arteries divide many times into smaller and smaller arteries. The smallest branches (capillaries) surround the walls of the tiniest air sacs (alveoli) in the lungs. The exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide happens between the alveoli and capillaries. There are about 300 million alveoli in each lung and 1 billion pulmonary capillaries.
The oxygen-rich blood flows from the lungs to the left atrium (LA) and then to the pumping chamber or left ventricle (LV). The left ventricle pumps the oxygen-rich blood to the whole body. In order for the human body to work 5 properly, it must have oxygen as a fuel source for all its functions. Oxygen cannot be stored in the body but must be continuously replenished.
About Blood Clots in Your Lungs
In certain conditions, blood clots form in the veins of the legs and pelvis. If they break loose from the veins, they are called emboli. The emboli are swept by the blood through the veins to the right side of the heart. The right side of the heart pumps blood to the lungs so the emboli get stuck in the branches of the pulmonary arteries. This can cause several problems:
- If enough of the arteries in the lungs are blocked, the amount of oxygen that can be delivered to the blood is decreased. The result is shortness of breath and more rapid breathing.
- The right ventricle must work harder to pump blood through partly blocked pulmonary arteries. The right ventricle gets stretched and weaker trying to do the extra work. It is not built to work so hard.
- If the right ventricle of the heart is stressed too much, heart failure can occur. When this occurs, blood backs up into the veins causing various parts of the body like the legs and the stomach to swell. As well, blood has trouble getting to the lungs.
Purpose of PTE Surgery
In most cases, when a pulmonary embolism happens, the body is able to digest the clots over time. In some patients, this does not occur. In the majority of cases, we do not know why the body fails to break these clots down. Over time, these residual blood clots form a thick rind of hardened material that is firmly stuck to the insides of arteries.
The purpose of PTE surgery is to remove the tough fibrous material that is blocking the pulmonary arteries in order to allow the right side of the heart to work properly. With this material out of the way, blood can get to all parts of the lungs and oxygen pick up is improved. When these clots are removed from the pulmonary arteries, the heart and the lungs begin to work together better.
The overall improvement after surgery may take some time as the small blood vessels throughout the lungs have developed changes in their muscular wall that generally get better after removing the major obstruction.
What Is PTE?
Pulmonary thromboendarterectomy (PTE) is a surgical procedure for patients who have chronic thrombo-embolic disease (CTEPH), that is, scar tissue in the lining of the pulmonary arteries caused by blood clots. This scar tissue causes blockages in the pulmonary arteries, which are the blood vessels that carry blood from the heart to the lungs. The result is a partial or complete blockage of blood through parts of the lungs.
Normally the heart and lungs work together. All of the blood that has been used by the body is returned to the right atrium (RA) on the right side of the heart through a system of veins. From the right atrium, the blood travels through the tricuspid valve to the right ventricle (RV) or pumping chamber. The job of the right ventricle is to pump blood a very short distance to the lungs through the pulmonary artery.
The primary purpose of the lungs is to supply oxygen to the blood and to remove carbon dioxide. This function is carried out by a system of branching air tubes which bring air in and out of the lungs and a system of blood vessels (pulmonary arteries) which bring blood to the lungs. The pulmonary arteries divide many times into smaller and smaller arteries. The smallest branches (capillaries) surround the walls of the tiniest air sacs (alveoli) in the lungs. The exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide happens between the alveoli and capillaries. There are about 300 million alveoli in each lung and 1 billion pulmonary capillaries.
The oxygen-rich blood flows from the lungs to the left atrium (LA) and then to the pumping chamber or left ventricle (LV). The left ventricle pumps the oxygen-rich blood to the whole body. In order for the human body to work 5 properly, it must have oxygen as a fuel source for all its functions. Oxygen cannot be stored in the body but must be continuously replenished.
About Blood Clots in Your Lungs
In certain conditions, blood clots form in the veins of the legs and pelvis. If they break loose from the veins, they are called emboli. The emboli are swept by the blood through the veins to the right side of the heart. The right side of the heart pumps blood to the lungs so the emboli get stuck in the branches of the pulmonary arteries. This can cause several problems:
- If enough of the arteries in the lungs are blocked, the amount of oxygen that can be delivered to the blood is decreased. The result is shortness of breath and more rapid breathing.
- The right ventricle must work harder to pump blood through partly blocked pulmonary arteries. The right ventricle gets stretched and weaker trying to do the extra work. It is not built to work so hard.
- If the right ventricle of the heart is stressed too much, heart failure can occur. When this occurs, blood backs up into the veins causing various parts of the body like the legs and the stomach to swell. As well, blood has trouble getting to the lungs.
Purpose of PTE Surgery
In most cases, when a pulmonary embolism happens, the body is able to digest the clots over time. In some patients, this does not occur. In the majority of cases, we do not know why the body fails to break these clots down. Over time, these residual blood clots form a thick rind of hardened material that is firmly stuck to the insides of arteries.
The purpose of PTE surgery is to remove the tough fibrous material that is blocking the pulmonary arteries in order to allow the right side of the heart to work properly. With this material out of the way, blood can get to all parts of the lungs and oxygen pick up is improved. When these clots are removed from the pulmonary arteries, the heart and the lungs begin to work together better.
The overall improvement after surgery may take some time as the small blood vessels throughout the lungs have developed changes in their muscular wall that generally get better after removing the major obstruction.