Catheter-Directed Therapy for Pulmonary Embolism

Publication date: Available online 12 October 2017 Source:Interventional Cardiology Clinics Author(s): Bedros Taslakian, Akhilesh K. SistaTeaser Acute pulmonary embolism (PE) is the third most common cause of death among hospitalized patients. Treatment escalation beyond anticoagulation therapy is necessary in patients with cardiogenic shock and may be of benefit in select normotensive patients with right heart strain. Percutaneous catheter-based techniques (catheter-directed mechanical thrombectomy, clot maceration, and/or pharmacologic thrombolysis) as an alternative or adjunct to systemic thrombolysis can rapidly debulk central clot in patients with shock. Catheter-directed thrombolysis, which uses a low-dose intraclot prolonged thrombolytic infusion, is a promising but insufficiently studied therapy for patients presenting with acute intermediate-risk PE.
Source: Interventional Cardiology Clinics - Category: Cardiology Source Type: research