[Direct pulmonary embolectomy without extracorporeal circulation. 5 cases]. / Embolectomie pulmonaire directe sans circulation extracorporelle. Cinq observations.

Five patients underwent pulmonary embolectomy without cardiopulmonary bypass. All had recent embolism completely obstructing the right branch of the artery but usually leaving the left branch open or almost totally free. In all patients fibrinolytic drugs were formally contra-indicated. Thoracotomy was performed through the right lateral approach. The embolus was completely removed; there were no post-operative complications and the results on follow-up are excellent.