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 <or=1 was judged as relatively peripheral disease. Forty-three patients were excluded from surgery, and 40 patients, including 14 cases of relatively peripheral disease, underwent surgery. Long-term survival and QOL scores at follow up (1-3 years) were compared between the surgically and medically treated groups of relatively peripheral disease. Survival curves between the 2 treatment groups were not significantly different (p=0.78) because of high operative mortality (21.4%). However, improvement in physical functioning, role function (physically related), general health perception (as assessed by the Medical Outcome Study Short Form 36), and baseline dyspnea index were significantly higher in the group treated surgically compared with the medically treated group.
Conclusions: Pulmonary thromboendarterectomy offers better QOL even in those patients with relatively peripheral type of CTEPH, although operative mortality must be reduced.