Background: Sarcopenia, or loss of skeletal muscle mass, has been associated with poor outcomes (e.g., functional decline, increased mortality, and low quality of life), but its role in CTEPH remains unclear. The psoas muscle index (PMI) is a validated measure of sarcopenia. We investigated the incidence of sarcopenia using PMI in CTEPH. Methods: Retrospective analysis of a single-center cohort of patients with CTEPH with an available computed tomography of the abdomen and pelvis (CTAP). PMI was measured at the L3 level of the CTAP and was then calculated using the formula (left psoas area + right psoas area/height²). Patients in the first quartile of PMI were classified as sarcopenic. Results: We reviewed 558 patients with CTEPH, and 97 patients had an available CTAP before intervention. Sarcopenia was identified in 26 (24.8%) of the patients and was associated with worse baseline functional status (p = 0.008), higher mean pulmonary artery pressure (48 vs. 39 mmHg; p = 0.002), and higher pulmonary vascular resistance (9.9 vs. 6.8 WU; p = 0.013). Post-PTE, patients with sarcopenia exhibited longer intensive care unit (ICU) (9 vs. 4 days, p < 0.001) and overall hospital stays (24 vs. 11 days, p < 0.001), despite similar post-operative hemodynamics achieved compared to non-sarcopenic patients. Conclusions: CTEPH patients with sarcopenia have worse baseline functional class and hemodynamics. For those with sarcopenia requiring surgery, there is longer ICU and total hospitalization stays, but they achieve significant functional improvements and hemodynamics comparable to that of non-sarcopenic patients. Hence, the risk of longer perioperative hospitalization days is justified by the longer-term benefit of hemodynamic improvement. The use of PMI as part of routine pre-operative assessments could improve clinical decision-making in CTEPH patients undergoing surgical or medical intervention.

Background: Pulmonary thromboendarterectomy (PTE) remains the preferred treatment for surgical accessible thrombus in patients with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH). However, residual pulmonary hypertension (PH) can persist post-PTE. Methods: A retrospective single-center analysis of patients that underwent PTE between 2013 and 2023. At 3-month follow-up, we performed a qualitative Echo-Doppler (DE) assessment and applied a semi-quantitative DE scoring system (DESS), assigning point values for six DE parameters: right ventricle (RV) size, RV shape (systolic base–apex ratio), RV function, septal position, tricuspid regurgitation (TR) and RV outflow tract notching (RVOTN). Higher scores suggested a more significant residual PH syndrome. Results: A total of 188 subjects (80%) did not require further PH intervention at ≥3 months (Group A); 48 (20%) required ongoing PH treatment (Group B). The pre-PTE median DESS was 10 and the post-PTE median DESS was 3.00 (range 0–16). The maximum DESS was 17. Using ROC analysis, post-PTE DESS strongly discriminated between Group A and B (AUC 0.76; 95% CI 0.65–0.89; p < 0.001). A post-PTE DESS of >6.5 differentiated Group A and B. Evidence of TR (OR 0.191, CI 0.103–0.279; p < 0.0001) and RV enlargement (OR 0.242; CI 0.153–0.330; p < 0.0001) at follow-up was associated with a need for additional PH interventions. Conclusions: Serial DE examination is a viable, noninvasive method to assess significant residual PH post-PTE.