Pulmonary Thromboendarterectomy (PTE) Surgery

In patients who we determine are surgical candidates, pulmonary thromboendarterectomy (PTE) surgery can often be curative. A PTE is a surgical procedure to remove chronic blood clots from arteries in the lung. Patients with CTEPH have chronic blood clots that form scars that adhere to the wall of the arteries causing partial or complete blockage. Since these clots cannot be dissolved or suctioned out, they must be removed surgically via a PTE.

This surgery is performed by Dr. Richard Shemin, Chief of Cardiac Surgery at UCLA and his team. Dr. Shemin has extensive experience in PTE surgery, and has achieved outstanding results with very low complications and mortality. Dr. Shemin is an innovator and pioneer in numerous aspects of cardiac surgery and has performed PTE in the most complicated patients.

Find more information at UCLA Heart and Vascular Services >