Long-term outcome after pulmonary endarterectomy.

Rationale: There are few follow-up studies on long-term cardiopulmonary function after pulmonary endarterectomy (PEA), the operation of choice for chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH).

Objectives: To prospectively evaluate long-term outcome of patients with CTEPH treated with PEA.

Methods: Between 1994 and 2006, 157 patients (mean age 55 yr) were treated with PEA at Pavia University Hospital.