Acute Massive Pulmonary Embolism Research Articles

Acute Massive and Submassive Pulmonary Embolism: Historical Considerations/Surgical Techniques of Pulmonary Embolectomy/Novel Applications in Donor Lungs with Pulmonary Emboli.

Pulmonary embolectomy has a chequered history but the quest to surgically treat a patient diagnosed with pulmonary embolism effectively spurred the development of cardiopulmonary bypass and a new dawn for cardiac surgery. The advent of cardiopulmonary bypass, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, and computed tomography pulmonary angiogram has allowed rapid diagnosis and made surgical pulmonary embolectomy a relatively safe procedure that should be considered when indicated. Pulmonary emboli in donor lungs, often get rejected for transplantation. Ex vivo lung perfusion is among newly available technology with the ability to not only recondition marginal lungs but also treat donor lung pulmonary embolisms, effectively increasing the donor pool.

Catheter-directed therapies for the treatment of high risk (massive) and intermediate risk (submassive) acute pulmonary embolism.

Catheter-directed therapies for the treatment of high risk (massive) and intermediate risk (submassive) acute pulmonary embolism.

Novel marker for predicting the severity and prognosis of acute pulmonary embolism: platelet-to-hemoglobin ratio.

Background: We investigated the ability of the platelet-to-hemoglobin ratio (PHR) to predict mortality and disease severity in patients with acute pulmonary embolism (APE). Materials & methods: The severity of APE was classified as massive (high risk), submassive (intermediate risk) or nonmassive (low risk). PHR is defined as platelet count/hemoglobin count. Results: PHR was significantly higher in patients with massive APE, and this elevation showed a gradual increase from the nonmassive group to the massive group (p<0.001). In-hospital and 1-month mortality were higher in patients with high PHR values. PHR was an independent risk factor for the development of massive APE (odds ratio: 1.014; 95% CI: 1.011-1.017; p=0.009). Conclusion: PHR values predicted massive APE and were an independent predictor of mortality in APE.

Ultrasound-facilitated catheter-directed thrombolysis via dual right upper extremity venous access into the basilic vein in a case of submassive pulmonary embolism

Traditionally, massive, life-threatening pulmonary embolism (PE) has been treated with systemic thrombolytic therapy, whereas submassive and smaller acute PEs have been treated with systemic anticoagulation therapy. Given that thrombolytic therapy is associated with a risk of life-threatening complications, including intracranial hemorrhage, it has not been routinely used or recommended for submassive PEs. In 2017, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved ultrasound-facilitated catheter- directed thrombolysis (USCDT) for acute massive and sub-massive pulmonary embolism. USCDT is primarily performed via jugular or femoral venous access. There have been isolated reports of USCDT performed via upper-extremity venous access. We present a case of ultrasound-facilitated catheter-directed thrombolysis (USCDT) in a submassive PE patient with dual right upper extremity venous access, where both sheaths were advanced into the basilic vein (due to anatomic variation). Based on recent clinical trial data suggesting that shorted duration USCDT is as effective as longer duration, tPA was infused in this case for 6 hours. This intervention strategy can enhance patient comfort with USCDT therapy and can be particularly helpful in patients at high risk of access site complications and those unable to lie supine for a long duration of infusion therapy.

Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation-First Strategy for Acute Life-Threatening Pulmonary Embolism.

BackgroundBoth venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) and percutaneous mechanical thrombectomy (PMT) are increasingly used to treat acute life-threatening pulmonary embolism (PE). However, there are little data regarding their effectiveness. This study aimed to present the short-term outcomes after managing nine patients with acute life-threatening massive or submassive PE by VA-ECMO with or without complemented PMT and propose a preliminary treatment algorithm.MethodsThis study was a single-center retrospective review of a prospectively maintained registry. It included nine consecutive patients with massive or submassive pulmonary embolism who underwent VA-ECMO for initial hemodynamic stabilization, with or without PMT, from August 2018 to November 2021.ResultsMean patient age was 54.7 years. Four of nine patients (44.4%) required cardiopulmonary resuscitation before or during VA-ECMO cannulation. All cannulations (100%) were successfully performed percutaneously. Overall survival was 88.9% (8 of 9 patients). One patient died from a hemorrhagic stroke. Of the survivors, the median ECMO duration was 8 days in patients treated with ECMO alone and 4 days in those treated with EMCO and PMT. Five of nine patients (55.6%) required concomitant PMT to address persistent right heart dysfunction, with the remaining survivors (44.4%) receiving VA-ECMO and anticoagulation alone. For survivors receiving VA-ECMO plus PMT, median hospital lengths of stay were 7 and 13 days, respectively.ConclusionsAn ECMO-first strategy complemented with PMT can be performed effectively and safely for acute life-threatening massive or submassive PE. VA-ECMO is feasible for initial stabilization, serving as a bridge to therapy primarily in inoperable patients with massive PE. Further evaluation in a larger cohort of patients is warranted to assess whether VA-ECMO plus PMT may offer an alternative or complementary therapy to thrombolysis or surgical thrombectomy.Type of ResearchSingle-center retrospective review of a prospectively maintained registry.

Abstract No. 275 Unplanned 30-day readmissions and in-hospital outcomes for the management of submassive and massive acute pulmonary embolism: catheter-directed versus systemic thrombolysis

To compare catheter-directed thrombolysis (CDT) to systemic intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) for acute submassive or massive pulmonary embolism with respect to 30-day readmission and in-hospital outcomes utilizing the Nationwide Readmission Database

Abstract No. 618 Characterization of pulmonary embolectomy thrombus with microscopy and treatment implications

Treatment of acute massive and submassive pulmonary embolism (PE) has traditionally been performed with anticoagulation, intravenous or catheter-based thrombolytics. The recent availability of several new percutaneous embolectomy devices has provided an opportunity to inspect thromboembolus both on the table and with microscopy.

Thrombosis of the right atrium in acute massive pulmonary embolism: a clinical case of effective thrombolysis by alteplase in a patient with unstable hemodynamics

The article presents a clinical case of treatment of a patient with acute massive pulmonary embolism. A 70-year-old patient was urgently admitted to the intensive care unit with complaints of sudden onset of chest pain for the first time, severe shortness of breath and two episodes of syncope in the last 4 hours. When the patient was admitted to the hospital, the heart rate was 131 beats / min, blood pressure was 80/50 mm Hg, SpO2 was 88 %, and PO2 was 76 mm Hg. Echocardiographically revealed dilated right atrium and right ventricle, hyperechogenic «floating» formation of the right atrium; moderate tricuspid regurgitation and pronounced pulmonary hypertension with systolic pressure in the pulmonary artery ~ 63 mm Hg were observed, and preserved systolic function of the left ventricle; inferior vena cava 20 mm, on the udder did not fall. It was urgently decided to carry out thrombolytic therapy to the patient in connection with unstable hemodynamics. The patient was started administration of alteplase according to the accelerated scheme: 10 mg of tissue plasminogen activator as an intravenous bolus for 1 minute of administration, then – intravenous infusion of alteplase 90 mg for the next 2 hours until the maximum total dose of 100 mg. Three hours after thrombolytic therapy – hemodynamic parameters of the patient had a positive dynamics: blood pressure – 125/80 mm Hg, pulse – 76/min, SaO2 – 98 %, PO2 – 90 mm Hg. On transthoracic echocardiography – no thrombus in the right atrium and right ventricle, as well as a small tricuspid regurgitation, with slight pulmonary hypertension (PsystRV – 36 mm Hg). This clinical case demonstrates thrombolysis with alteplase – «rescue therapy» and a fairly effective treatment option for patients with unstable hemodynamics, acute massive pulmonary embolism, complicated by thrombosis of the right atrium and/or right ventricle and existing hypertensive.

Research progress of survival predictive score in veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation

Veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) is an extracorporeal circulation technique that provides circulatory and oxygenation support, and it is currently used in the treatment of cardiogenic shock (CS), pulmonary embolism, cardiac arrest (CA), and other diseases. However, this technology is still associated with high complications and mortality. The use of predictive scores for risk stratification before VA-ECMO will be helpful to screen the optimal benefiting population, make optimal clinical decisions, and allocate medical resources reasonably. At present, there are few reports about predictive scores for VA-ECMO. This article systematically reviewed the predictive performance of various scoring tools [the survival after venoarterial ECMO (SAVE) score, prediction of cardiogenic shock outcome for acute myocardial infarction (AMI) patients salvaged by VA-ECMO (ENCOURAGE) score, model for end-stage liver disease (MELD-XI) score, post-cardiotomy extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (PC-ECMO) score, the predicting mortality in patients undergoing VA-ECMO after coronary artery bypass grafting (REMEMBER) score, predictors of mortality with VA-ECMO for acute massive pulmonary embolism, extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ECPR) score, the hypothermia outcome prediction after extracorporeal life support (HOPE) score] for patients receiving VA-ECMO to provide reference for clinical treatment.

Modern aspects of MSCT diagnostics of acute massive pulmonary embolism

Introduction: The growing importance of the MSCT method in the case of acute massive pulmonary embolism forms new diagnostic directions — the determination of objective MSCT markers of right ventricular dysfunction and the search for new, previously ignored, MSCT parameters of angiographic severity of embolic load.The purpose of the study: to evaluate the prognostic role and predictivity of the results of MSCT angiopulmonography in the case of choosing a surgical method for the treatment of pulmonary embolism.Research objectives. Тo analyze the influence of the volume of preserved peripheral arterial pulmonary blood flow on the results of surgical treatment of acute massive PE and the dependence of the average pressure in the pulmonary artery on the MSCT parameters.Materials and methods: this work examines the surgical approach to the treatment and possibilities of preoperative MSCT diagnosis of acute massive pulmonary embolism. The 7-year analysis included the analysis of more than 1,200 MSCT studies for acute massive pulmonary embolism. 147 patients were selected for surgical treatment and successfully operated on, the remaining patients received conservative therapy with dynamic MSCT observation. According to international classifiers, the analysis of classes and categories of intraoperative and postoperative complications of emergency surgical treatment was performed in comparison with the initial MSCT parameters of acute massive PE.Results. The smaller the number of segmental branches of the pulmonary artery is determined at the preoperative stage, the higher the risks of mortality and complications of emergency surgical treatment of acute massive PE (p&lt;0,001). A direct relationship between the average pressure in the pulmonary artery and the MSCT parameter-the diameter of the unpaired vein (p&lt;0,001) was confirmed. An increase in the number of visualized bronchial arteries corresponds to an increase in the average pressure in the pulmonary artery (p&lt;0,05).Discussion. The lightning speed of the course of pulmonary embolism dictates an exceptional approach to the completeness of the diagnosis of the disease, and the change in treatment tactics due to the increasing demand for surgical methods of treatment changes the diagnostic approach to acute pulmonary embolism in general. The success of surgical treatment of PE directly depends on the completeness and speed of preoperative MSCT diagnostics, in particular, on the quality of analysis of intra-pulmonary and intracardiac hemodynamics.Conclusion: For acute massive PE with obstruction at the level of the trunk and / or main branches of the pulmonary artery, with a sharp and often uncontrolled progression of right ventricular failure, risk stratification in «real time» becomes the most relevant, the time factor becomes of paramount importance for determining treatment tactics. The inclusion of previously ignored MSCT parameters in the algorithm of preoperative diagnosis allows us to modify the algorithm of preoperative diagnosis, to form and introduce the concept of the reference MSCT status of a patient with acute massive PE.

Use of mechanical pulmonary reperfusion and fibrinolysis in acute massive pulmonary embolism requiring extracorporeal membrane oxygenation support: A systematic review and meta-analysis

The optimal pulmonary revascularization strategy in acute massive pulmonary embolism (PE) requiring the implantation extra corporeal membrane oxygenation remains controversial, and data are sparse. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of available evidence regarding the use of mechanical reperfusion (i.e. surgical or catheter-based embolectomy) and fibrinolytic strategies (i.e. systemic fibrinolysis, catheter-directed fibrinolysis, or as stand-alone therapy) in terms of mortality and bleeding outcomes. The literature search identified 835 studies, 17 of which were included or a total of 321 PE patients with ECMO. In total, 31.1% were treated with mechanical pulmonary reperfusion, while 78.9% received fibrinolytic strategies. The mortality rate was 23.0% in the mechanical reperfusion group and 43.1% in the fibrinolysis group ( Fig. 1 ). The pooled OR for mortality with mechanical reperfusion was 0.46 (95% CI: 0.213–0.997; I2 = 28.3%) versus fibrinolysis. The rate of bleeding in PE patients under ECMO was 29.1% in the mechanical reperfusion group and 26.0% in the fibrinolytic reperfusion (OR: 1.09; 95% CI: 0.46–2.54; I2, 0.0%) among 10 eligible studies with available bleeding data. The meta-regression model did not identify any relationship between the covariates “more than one pulmonary reperfusion therapy” and “ECMO implantation before pulmonary reperfusion therapy”, and outcomes. The results of the present meta-analysis and meta-regression suggest that surgical embolectomy yields the best results, regardless of the timing of VA-ECMO implantation in the reperfusion timeline, and regardless of whether fibrinolysis has been administered or not.

Increasing angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) 2/ACE axes ratio alleviates early pulmonary vascular remodeling in a porcine model of acute pulmonary embolism with cardiac arrest.

Acute pulmonary embolism (APE) with cardiac arrest (CA) is characterized by high mortality in emergency due to pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). This study aims to determine whether early pulmonary artery remodeling occurs in PAH caused by massive APE with CA and the protective effects of increasing angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) 2-angiotensin (Ang) (1-7)-Mas receptor axis and ACE-Ang II-Ang II type 1 receptor (AT1) axis (ACE2/ACE axes) ratio on pulmonary artery lesion after return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC). To establish a porcine massive APE with CA model, autologous thrombus was injected into the external jugular vein until mean arterial pressure dropped below 30 mmHg (1 mmHg=0.133 kPa). Cardiopulmonary resuscitation and thrombolysis were delivered to regain spontaneous circulation. Pigs were divided into four groups of five pigs each: control group, APE-CA group, ROSC-saline group, and ROSC-captopril group, to examine the endothelial pathological changes and expression of ACE2/ACE axes in pulmonary artery with or without captopril. Histological analysis of samples from the APE-CA and ROSC-saline groups showed that pulmonary arterioles were almost completely occluded by accumulated endothelial cells. Western blotting analysis revealed a decrease in the pulmonary arterial ACE2/ACE axes ratio and increases in angiopoietin-2/angiopoietin-1 ratio and expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in the APE-CA group compared with the control group. Captopril significantly suppressed the activation of angiopoietin-2/angiopoietin-1 and VEGF in plexiform lesions formed by proliferative endothelial cells after ROSC. Captopril also alleviated endothelial cell apoptosis by increasing the B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2)/Bcl-2-associated X (Bax) ratio and decreasing cleaved caspase-3 expression. Increasing the ACE2/ACE axes ratio may ameliorate pulmonary arterial remodeling by inhibiting the apoptosis and proliferation of endothelial cells after ROSC induced by APE.

Acute Pulmonary Embolism and Chronic Thromboembolic Pulmonary Hypertension: Clinical and Serial CT Pulmonary Angiographic Features.

In acute pulmonary embolism (PE), circulatory failure and systemic hypotension are important clinically for predicting poor prognosis. While pulmonary artery (PA) clot loads can be an indicator of the severity of current episode of PE or treatment effectiveness, they may not be used directly as an indicator of right ventricular (RV) failure or patient death. In other words, pulmonary vascular resistance or patient prognosis may not be determined only with mechanical obstruction of PAs and their branches by intravascular clot loads on computed tomography pulmonary angiography (CTPA), but determined also with vasoactive amines, reflex PA vasoconstriction, and systemic arterial hypoxemia occurring during acute PE. Large RV diameter with RV/left ventricle (LV) ratio > 1.0 and/or the presence of occlusive clot and pulmonary infarction on initial CTPA, and clinically determined high baseline PA pressure and RV dysfunction are independent predictors of oncoming chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH). In this pictorial review, authors aimed to demonstrate clinical and serial CTPA features in patients with acute massive and submassive PE and to disclose acute CTPA and clinical features that are related to the prediction of oncoming CTEPH.

Overall 5-year survival rate and disease-free survival after segmentectomy versus lobectomy in patients with non-small cell lung cancer.

Anatomical lobectomy has always been the standard operative treatment of early-stage non-small cell lung cancer. However, there have been emerging evidences suggesting that a subanatomical resection, such as segmentectomy, may yield the same treatment results, even in patients with higher-stage non-small cell lung cancer. This study aimed to compare overall 5-year survival rate and disease-free survival between lobectomy and segmentectomy in patients with non-small cell lung cancer. The retrospective study included 380 patients who underwent surgery for non-small cell lung cancer at Ramathibodi Hospital between 1st January 2016 and 31st December 2020. Of 380 patients, 307 patients underwent lobectomy, while the other 73 patients underwent segmentectomy. Operative, admission, and follow-up data were collected from electronic medical records. Missing data were collected by telephone calls to patients or their relatives in deceased cases. Overall and disease-free survival were analyzed. Median overall 5-year survival time after lobectomy and segmentectomy seemed to be different but not statistically significant (18.5 months versus 5.8 months, p = 0.127). Median disease-free survival time after lobectomy and segmentectomy was also similar (8.6 months versus 4.5 months, p = 0.511). Two deaths occurred during perioperative period, one from lobectomy group due to acute massive pulmonary embolism (0.3%) and the other from segmentectomy group due to acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease with respiratory failure (1.4%). Lobectomy and segmentectomy result in similar overall 5-year survival rate and disease-free survival between these two comparison groups. Therefore, segmentectomy may be a potential alternative for operative treatment of non-small cell lung cancer. However, a larger and randomized-controlled trial may be needed to further validate these results.

Pulmonary embolism in iatrogenic Cushing&amp;apos;s syndrome: a case report

Background: Patients with Cushing&amp;apos;s syndrome have an increased risk of thrombosis due to acquired hypercoagulability. Case Presentation: A 54-year-old obese female, with underlying iatrogenic Cushing&amp;apos;s syndrome (ICS), presented with a sudden onset of dyspnea and circulatory collapse. Computed tomography pulmonary angiogram confirmed acute massive pulmonary embolism (PE). She showed marked improvement after treatment with anticoagulation. Conclusion: This case demonstrates the clinical presentations and pathophysiology of Cushing&amp;apos;s syndrome (CS). CS patients are prone to thrombosis due to disturbance in all three components of Virchow&amp;apos;s triad. PE is one of the leading causes of mortality in CS. Clinicians should be aware of this serious, but less recognized, complication when a patient with CS presents with acute circulatory collapse. Anticoagulants remain the mainstay of treatment in ICS complicated by PE.

Management of Acute Massive Pulmonary Embolism During Pharmaco-mechanical Thrombectomy for Acute DVT: A Case Report

This case report describes an incident of MPE during lower limb endovascular pharmaco-mechanical thrombectomy under sedation, which was immediately identified and promptly managed with cardiopulmonary resuscitation. After return of spontaneous circulation, ECMO was initiated, as her haemodynamics were unstable, and MPE was diagnosed based on transoesophageal echocardiography findings. During intensive care unit stay, she was successfully weaned off from ECMO and ventilatory support. However, the patient developed right-sided body weakness. Echocardiography showed a patent foramen ovale, and stroke due to paradoxical embolism was diagnosed. She was transferred to the ward in a stable condition and later discharged home. Abbreviations: MPE: Massive pulmonary embolism, ECMO: extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. Keywords: MPE: Massive pulmonary embolism, ECMO: extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, PFO: patent foramen ovale, PMT: pharmaco-mechanical thrombectomy, Sedation

232 A multidisciplinary case of multiple myeloma with cardiac and renal involvement: a look beyond amyloidosis

Abstract Aims Multiple myeloma (MM) is a malignant neoplasm with a frequent cardiac involvement characterized by restrictive cardiomyopathy. Kidney and thromboembolic complications are also described. Methods and results A 52-year-old woman with a history of kidney disease was admitted to nephrology department due to worsening of renal function and refractory hypertension. A bone marrow biopsy revealed the diagnosis of MM. A renal and fat pad biopsy with Congo red staining was performed but amyloid deposition was not observed. Increased cardiac enzymes suggested a cardiac involvement. Indeed, two intracardiac right-sided masses and massive pulmonary embolism were detected. Surgical cardiac intervention was promptly performed and a chemotherapy regimen was started. Meantime, a kidney biopsy revealed a light-chain deposition disease. Conclusions This case highlights that multiple organ involvement in patients with MM may result from a combination of paraprotein-dependent and -independent factors. Moreover, in patients with not acute massive pulmonary embolism and intracardiac right masses, surgical pulmonary embolectomy should be promptly performed to preserve RV function and to avoid prevent pulmonary hypertension development.

216 The ‘inflammatory perfect storm’: a case of COVID-19 pneumonia complicated by pulmonary embolism

AimsThe inflammatory ‘cytokine storm’ that distinguishes COVID-19 pneumonia is associated with a state of systemic hypercoagulability, which leads to thrombotic complications on the venous, arterial, and microvascular side. Indeed, in patients with COVID-19, systemic inflammation, coagulation activation, hypoxemia, and immobilization expose a high risk of pulmonary embolism, which significantly worsens the prognosis of these patients.Methods and resultsIn this report, we discuss the case of a 71-year-old female, with no prior medical history, admitted to the emergency department for syncope, dyspnoea, and fever started 48 h earlier. At presentation, ear temperature was 37 °C, oxygen saturation was 96% on oxygen therapy (6 l/min), the patient appeared hypertensive (160/80 mmHg) and tachycardic (114 b.p.m.). Laboratory tests revealed normal white blood cells count (10 000/μl) and increased C reactive protein (5.60 mg/dl), troponin I (0.417 ng/ml), and d-dimer levels (15743 ng/ml). Electrocardiogram showed sinus tachycardia at HR of 120/min, normal atrioventricular conduction time, new onset right bundle branch block, and inverted T waves on DIII. Considering the symptoms, CTPA was performed, revealing massive acute bilateral pulmonary embolism with peripheral ground glass opacities. Those findings were suggestive of COVID-19 pneumonia. Indeed, the patient was positive for SARS-CoV-2 infection, and a diagnosis of COVID-19 pneumonia complicated by pulmonary embolism was made. Treatments included oxygen, subcutaneous low molecular weight heparin (LWMH), and corticosteroids have been administrated according to current international guidelines. Since no haemodynamic instability was observed during hospitalization the patient was discharged on Warfarin therapy for 6 months.ConclusionsIn COVID-19 patients treated in a hospital the incidence of pulmonary embolism (PE) is very high. Patients with COVID-19 infection have respiratory symptoms, which often may not be distinguishable from pulmonary embolism symptoms. So, unexpected respiratory worsening, signs of right ventricular dysfunction on transthoracic echocardiogram, and ECG changes should lead to suspicion of the co-presence of pulmonary embolism. This case report shows how COVID-19 infection can be strongly associated with thrombotic complications. For this reason, the guidelines recommend anticoagulation at standard prophylactic doses in all patients admitted with COVID-19 infection.

Acil Serviste Pulmoner Tromboemboli Tanısı Konulan Hastalarda Hematolojik Parametrelerin Klinik Önemi

Objective: Acute pulmonary embolism (APE) is a highly fatal acute clinical condition. Herein, we aimed to determine the role of blood parameters in the diagnosis and prognostication of APE.&#x0D; Material and Method: This study was conducted retrospectively on patients who had been admitted to our hospital’s emergency department (ED) and diagnosed with APE. Patients with an RV/LV ratio greater than 0,9 on Computed tomography (CT) and hypotension were grouped as massive APE; patients with stable hemodynamics and an RV/LV ratio greater than 0,9 on CT were defined as submissive APE; and patients with stable hemodynamics and an RV/LV ratio smaller than 0,9 on CT were defined as non-massive APE.&#x0D; Results: This study enrolled a total of 200 patients, 82 of which were male (41%) and 118 were female (59%). APE group had a significantly greater D-dimer level than the control group (3.559,5±8.611.3 ng/ml vs 266.6±266.6 ng/ml) (p

Initial experience and early outcomes of the management of acute pulmonary embolism using the FlowTriever mechanical thrombectomy device.

Submassive and massive pulmonary embolism is associated with a high risk of complications. We aimed to evaluate our initial experience with a mechanical thrombectomy device in the management of these patients. A single-center, retrospective study was performed in patients with acute submassive and massive pulmonary embolism treated with the FlowTriever device (Inari Medical, Irvine, CA, USA) between June 2019 and November 2020. Clinical and technical parameters were analyzed during the hospitalization and at 30- and 180-days after the procedure. Fourteen patients were evaluated with a median (IQR) age of 60 (50-69) years and 64% were male. All had right heart strain as the main indication for thrombectomy. The procedure duration and fluoroscopic time was 52 (37-89) and 13 (9-24) minutes, respectively. There was 100% technical success, and the pulmonary arterial pressure went from 60 (48-65) mmHg to 40 (34-47) mmHg. Thrombolysis was used in two patients and nine patients required intensive care. 100% experienced improvement in symptoms at the time of discharge. There were no device-related complications, major bleeding events, myocardial infarctions, or deaths. Preprocedural hemoglobin was 13 (12-15) g/dL, and predischarge was 12 (10-13) g/dL. Overall postprocedural length of stay was three (2-6) days. All the patients were discharged with oral anticoagulation. There were no device-related complications or recurrence of embolism at 30 and 180 days. The mechanical thrombectomy device for submassive and massive pulmonary embolism is promising and appears a safe and effective procedure with 100% technical success, no complications, short intensive care requirement/stay, and good early clinical outcomes.