Survival and quality of life for patients with peripheral type chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension.

BACKGROUND: The validity of pulmonary thromboendarterectomy for treatment of relatively peripheral type of chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) remains uncertain. The survival and quality of life (QOL) of patients with relatively peripheral type of CTEPH was investigated at follow up.

METHODS AND RESULTS: Between April 1999 and March 2006, 83 consecutive patients with CTEPH were evaluated for surgical indication and underwent computed tomography angiography. The extent of central disease was scored (ie, CD score), and a CD score of
CONCLUSIONS: Pulmonary thromboendarterectomy offers better QOL even in those patients with relatively peripheral type of CTEPH, although operative mortality must be reduced.