# Perioperative Use of Pulmonary Artery Catheter in a Patient With Severe Chronic Thromboembolic Pulmonary Hypertension Undergoing Major Gynecological Surgery: A Case Report

**Authors:** Laura Kekec, Sanja Radisavljević Vitas, Mojca Bervar, Gordana Taleska Štupica

PMC · DOI: 10.7759/cureus.103094 · Cureus · 2026-02-06

## TL;DR

A patient with severe lung hypertension successfully underwent major gynecological surgery with careful monitoring and tailored anesthetic care.

## Contribution

Demonstrates the effective use of pulmonary artery catheter monitoring in managing severe CTEPH during noncardiac surgery.

## Key findings

- Continuous PAC monitoring allowed stable pulmonary pressures without vasopressor support during surgery.
- The patient had an uneventful recovery and was discharged on postoperative day eight.
- Meticulous anesthetic management and advanced monitoring are critical for optimal outcomes in severe PH cases.

## Abstract

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is associated with substantial perioperative risk in noncardiac surgery. In chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH), persistent elevation of pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) imposes considerable mechanical load on the right ventricle (RV), limiting its ability to tolerate acute physiologic changes. We report the successful management of a 52-year-old woman with severe CTEPH undergoing total hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy. Comprehensive preoperative assessment, meticulous intraoperative management, and continuous hemodynamic monitoring with a pulmonary artery catheter (PAC) enabled tight control of pulmonary pressures without vasopressor support. Under low-dose glyceryl trinitrate infusion and PAC-guided titration of therapy, her mean pulmonary artery pressures (mPAP) remained stable throughout surgery and the early postoperative period. She experienced an uneventful recovery and was discharged home on postoperative day eight. This case underscores the critical role of meticulously tailored anesthetic management and advanced monitoring (PAC) in ensuring optimal outcomes for patients with severe PH undergoing noncardiac surgery.

## Linked entities

- **Chemicals:** glyceryl trinitrate (PubChem CID 4510)
- **Diseases:** pulmonary hypertension (MONDO:0005149), chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (MONDO:0013024)

## Full-text entities

- **Genes:** FGB (fibrinogen beta chain) [NCBI Gene 2244] {aka HEL-S-78p}
- **Diseases:** thromboembolic (MESH:D013923), hypercapnia (MESH:D006935), hypoalbuminemia (MESH:D034141), speech difficulties (MESH:D013064), obstructive ventilatory physiology (MESH:D012131), embolic (MESH:D004617), diastolic dysfunction (MESH:D018487), abdominal mass (MESH:D000007), bleeding (MESH:D006470), TR (MESH:D014262), nausea (MESH:D009325), ) decompensation (MESH:D006333), arrhythmias (MESH:D001145), uterine masses (MESH:C536030), analgesia (MESH:D000699), Hypoxia (MESH:D000860), PH (MESH:D006976), ventricular ( (MESH:D014693), motor deficits (MESH:D009461), hypotension (MESH:D007022), ischemia (MESH:D007511), CTEPH (MESH:D011655), pulmonary emboli (MESH:D020766), patent foramen ovale (MESH:D054092), encephalomalacia (MESH:D004678), Pain (MESH:D010146), hepatomegaly (MESH:D006529), atelectasis (MESH:D001261), RV (MESH:C535682), volume overload (MESH:D019190), antiphospholipid syndrome (MESH:D016736), deep vein thromboses (MESH:D020246), PVR (MESH:D057772), PAC (MESH:D000071079), Blood loss (MESH:D016063), hypovolemia (MESH:D020896), edema (MESH:D004487), infection (MESH:D007239), right ventricular failure (MESH:D051437), tumorous (MESH:D009369), Sjogren syndrome (MESH:D012859), adrenal insufficiency (MESH:D000309), ischemic (MESH:D002545), valvular dysfunction (MESH:D006349), pulmonary artery rupture (MESH:D012421), drop in cardiac output (MESH:D002303)
- **Chemicals:** fentanyl (MESH:D005283), piritramide (MESH:D010892), nitrous oxide (MESH:D009609), acetylsalicylic acid (MESH:D001241), nitric oxide (MESH:D009569), rosuvastatin (MESH:D000068718), Etomidate (MESH:D005045), enoxaparin (MESH:D017984), sevoflurane (MESH:D000077149), Propofol (MESH:D015742), milrinone (MESH:D020105), prostacyclin (MESH:D011464), rocuronium (MESH:D000077123), paracetamol (MESH:D000082), oxygen (MESH:D010100), PAC (-), dalteparin (MESH:D017985), glyceryl trinitrate (MESH:D005996), metamizole (MESH:D004177), iloprost (MESH:D016285)
- **Species:** Homo sapiens (human, species) [taxon 9606]

## Full text

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## Figures

9 figures with captions in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12968090/full.md

## References

14 references — full list in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12968090/full.md

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Source: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12968090