Successful catheter-directed thrombolysis of a massive pulmonary embolism in a patient after recent pneumonectomy

Massive pulmonary embolism (PE) after major thoracic surgery is an uncommon but life-threatening event that is challenging to manage. At present, the treatment of acute PE is either anticoagulation with or without systemic thrombolytic therapy. We report a case of a 65-year-old female with recent left pneumonectomy who developed a massive PE. The patient was successfully and safely treated with catheter-directed thrombolysis. To our knowledge, this is the first patient treated in this fashion.