Dynamics of clinical and functional condition of patients with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension after pulmonary thrombendarterectomy

Purpose of the study was to investigate the effect of pulmonary thromboendarterectomy (PTE) on clinical and functional condition of patients with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH). We examined 65 patients with CTEPH who underwent PTE. The evaluation of clinical and functional status was performed before surgery, in hospital (3 weeks after surgery), and long"term (six months or more). During in"hospital period, in general, there was a decrease in complaints about shortness of breath and cough among the PTE patients. Increase in 6"minute walking distance test and more than 2"fold decrease of dyspnea rate suggested that the PTE surgery improved clinical and functional state of patients with CTEPH during in"hospital and later periods. Regression of symptoms after the surgical treatment of CTEPH did not depend on the initial degree of pulmonary hypertension.