Decrease In Pulmonary Artery Pressure Research Articles

FACTORS RESPONSIBLE FOR INSIGNIFICANT DECREASE IN PULMONARY ARTERY PRESSURE IMMEDIATELY AFTER PER CUTANEOUS TRANS-MITRAL COMMISSUROTOMY IN PATIENTS OF RHEUMATIC MITRAL STENOSIS

OBJECTIVES: To determine the factors responsible for insignificant decrease in pulmonary artery pressure immediately after percutaneous trans-mitral commissurotomy (PTMC) in patients of rheumatic mitral stenosis. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted on patients undergoing PTMC at Cardiology Unit, Lady Reading Hospital, Peshawar, Pakistan from 11th February, 2016 to 28th February, 2018. Pulmonary artery pressure (PAP) was noted before and after PTMC through echocardiography. Data was analyzed with SPSS Version 20.0, categorical and continuous variables were described as frequencies/percentages and mean±SD respectively. Odds Ratio was determined for factors negatively affecting the fall in PAP. RESULTS: Out of 159 patients, 108 (67.9%) were females. Mean age was 25.38±10.67 years. PAP was insignificantly decreased in patients >30 years (p>0.05), symptoms for >5 years (p>0.05), left atrium diameter >4.5cm (p>0.05), atrial fibrillation (p>0.05), right ventricle diameter >2.5cm (p>0.05) and NYHA IV dyspnea (p>0.05). Odds Ratio for failure of significant decrease in PAP immediately post-PTMC was 1.68 for age more than 30 years, 1.10 for symptoms more than 5 years, 3.73 for LA diameter more than 4.5 cm, 2.31 for RV diameter more than 2.5 cm , 2.32 for history of atrial fibrillation and 6.71 for NYHA IV dyspnea. CONCLUSION: Factors which negatively affect the immediate fall in PAP post-PTMC are age >30years, duration of symptoms >5years, LA diameter >4.5cm, history of atrial fibrillation, RV diameter >2.5cm and NYHA IV dyspnea and hence are the poor predictors of successful PTMC while NYHA IV dyspnea has highest Odds for insignificant decrease.

Efficacy and safety of a novel nitric oxide generator for the treatment of neonatal pulmonary hypertension: Experimental and clinical studies

Persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn (PPHN) is a complex pathology resulting from a failure of the post-natal reduction in pulmonary vascular resistance leading to hypoxemia. The standard therapy is inhaled Nitric Oxide (NO) improving oxygenation but its availability is limited, especially in hospitals with restricted financial resources. We evaluated the efficacy and safety of a new device generating NO (TAS + PLUS), in three experimental piglet models of pulmonary hypertension (PH), and we later tested its application in a pilot study of newborn patients suffering from PPHN.Piglets with experimentally induced PH showed a decrease in pulmonary arterial pressure (PAP) after breathing NO. Both acute and chronic exposure of piglets and rats did not cause any adverse effect in blood gas levels and biological parameters. A pilot study including 32 patients suffering from PPHN showed an increase in oxygen saturation (SatO2) and partial pressure of oxygen in arterial blood (PaO2) leading to a decrease of Oxygenation Index (OI) after compassionate treatment with NO from TAS + PLUS device.The device showed effectiveness and safety both in experimental PH and in the clinical setting. Therefore, it represents an excellent alternative for PPHN management in conditions where commercial NO is unavailable.

EFFICACY OF MYOCARDIAL REVASCULARIZATION IN POTENTIAL RECIPIENTS OF HEART WITH THE CHRONIC ISCHEMIC HEART FAILURE

Aim: to evaluate clinical effi ciency of percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) at potential recipients of heart with the chronic ischemic heart failure (CHF).Materials and methods. In this retrospective study results of treatment at 76 patients with CHF NYHA III and 36 patients with CHF NYHA IV by scheduled PCI are presented. Duration of observation was from 6 to 160 months. The age of patients at the time of intervention was 61,7 ± 0,62 years (from 33 to 76). 108 male and 4 female. Defi ned life expectancy and echocardiography parameters of the left ventricle (LV) of heart. Results.20 patients were died, 16 of them from cardiovascular events. 18 patients during this period undergo orthotopic heart transplantation (HT). The endovascular revascularization leads to LV volumes reduction, increase of ejection fraction and decrease of pulmonary artery pressure. Progress CHF is followed by negative dynamics of these characteristics and need of HT performance. In 74% of cases the effect of myocardial revascularization allows to provide increase in life expectancy of potential recipients of heart with the chronic ischemic heart failure. Conclusion.Performance of PCI at patients with the chronic ischemic heart failure can delay heart transplantation or become its alternative.

Cardiac remodelling after valvular replacement in patients with aortic stenosis: A substudy from Translink

Reverse cardiac remodelling is a major goal of aortic valve replacement (AVR). Global longitudinal strain (GLS) currently allows a more sensitive evaluation of systolic function than left ventricle ejection fraction (LVEF). The European Translink FP7 project prospectively included patients with aortic stenosis scheduled for surgical or percutaneous AVR. The present substudy included patients enrolled in Nantes University Hospital. Patients were separated in two groups according to baseline left ventricle (LV) GLS value (normal ≤ or altered > −16%). Changes in LV GLS and cardiac morphology were evaluated 6 months after AVR. Two hundred patients (64% men, mean age 74 ± 9 years) were included and the follow up at 6 months was completed in 127. LVEF at baseline was 62 ± 10% and GLS −16.1 ± 3.7%. Patients with impaired GLS at baseline ( n = 85, 43%) were more often diabetics and obese, and had higher NT-proBNP levels. Cardiac cavities remodelling was more pronounced, LVEF was moderately decreased (57.1 ± 10.9% vs. 65.9 ± 7.3%; P < 0.001), and valvulo-arterial impedance was higher. These patients experienced a significant improvement in GLS at 6 months (−15.3 ± 3.8% vs. −12.9 ± 2.3%; P < 0.001), in contrast with patients with normal GLS at baseline (-18.7 ± 1.6% vs. −18.1 ± 2.6%; P = 0.07). Baseline LVEF and septal E/Ea were significantly associated with GLS value at 6 months in multivariate analysis. There was no significant change in left atrium size but a decrease in E/Ea at 6 months. Despite a significant decrease in pulmonary artery pressure, there was a significant alteration of right ventricle strain at 6 months (−20.7 ± 4.7% vs. −23.2 ± 5.8%; P < 0.001), in correlation with tricuspid annulus dilatation ( Fig. 1 ). Left ventricle presented a significant reverse remodelling after surgical or percutaneous AVR, especially in patients with altered GLS before procedure. This favourable LV remodelling contrast with unfavourable right cavities remodelling.

Role of mitral valve repair in active infective endocarditis: long term results

BackgroundAlthough mitral valve repair is at present the technique of choice in mitral regurgitation (MR) due to degenerative valve disease, long term results in patients with active mitral infective endocarditis (IE) are still under evaluation.MethodsIn the study were included 34 consecutive patients (22 males; mean age, 60 years; range 32–84 years) referred to our institution between January 1, 2005 to December 31, 2011 who were treated with valve repair for mitral valve (MV) active infective endocarditis. Eighteen patients underwent isolated MV repair. Aortic valve replacement and respectively repair were performed in 9 and 2 patients with concomitant aortic involvement. Blood cultures were positive in 30 (17 Staphylococcus, 13 Streptococcus, 1 g negative, 2 enterococcus).ResultsFour patients died during hospital stay (11%) due to multi system organ failure as a consequence of severe septic shock (2 patients), cardiogenic shock (1 case) and respiratory failure (1 patient). At an average follow up of 48 months in patients discharged alive from hospital survival was 96.7% (29 out of 30). None developed more than mild- to moderate mitral valve regurgitation during follow-up and we found a significant improvement in functional capacity and left ventricular ejection fraction associated with a significant decrease of pulmonary artery pressure. The only recurrence of endocarditis occurred in a drug addict patient.ConclusionsPresent investigation suggest that in patients with active mitral valve endocarditis MV repair, when technically feasible, is associated with a favorable clinical long term outcome. None of the patients alive at the end of follow-up developed severe mitral regurgitation. Moreover mortality and reinfection rate are uncommon and functional improvement.

CLINICAL CASE: CHRONIC THROMBOEMBOLIC PULMONARY HYPERTENSION IN A CHILD

The article deals with a rare clinical case of chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension in children. This case demonstrates the difficulty of identifying of chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension and masking it under the community-acquired pneumonia. In the diagnosis of the leading methods were echocardiography of the heart and radiopaque tomography of the chest. Etiology of the disease has been established. The use of anticoagulants in the treatment led to positive dynamics: to re radiopaque tomography of the chest imaging of blood clots is not more than 1 mm, decrease in pulmonary artery pressure.

Thrombus resolution and right ventricular functional recovery using ultrasound-accelerated thrombolysis in acute massive and submassive pulmonary embolism.

This study aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of ultrasound-accelerated catheter-directed thrombolysis (UACDT) in the treatment of massive and submassive pulmonary embolism (PE). We conducted a prospective, observational cohort study of consequtive patients with massive or submassive PE treated with low-dose UACDT using EKOS EkoSonic® system at single center from May 2014 until April 2015. Overall, thirty-eight patients (median age, 64.5 years) were included. The primary safety outcomes were change in right ventricular (RV) to left ventricular (LV) diameter ratio within 24 hours of procedure initiation, at 1- and 6-month follow-up and major bleeding within 96 hours of the procedure initiation. BNP, troponin and D-dimer levels were also measured. The ultrasound-accelerated thrombolytic catheters were bilaterally placed in 25 (65.8%) patients. The median tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) dose for all patients in our study was 21.0 mg and the median infusion time was 15 hours. Measurements before and after treatment showed a decrease in pulmonary artery pressure. The median value of RV/LV diameter ratio decreased from 0.9 (0.7-1.1) at baseline to 0.7 (0-0.97) at 6-month follow-up (P=0.001) and pulmonary artery pressure from 61.4 ±16.7 to 37.2±9.1 mmHg (P=0.001). The median BNP level at baseline was 169 (29-721) pg/mL and 45.5 (0-328) pg/mL at 6 month follow-up (P=0.001). Of 38 patients with PE, one had intracranial hemorrage, one gastrointestinal bleeding and two developed puncture site bleeding. This prospective study provides alternative treatment option and an addition to the treatment algorithm for the management of pulmonary embolism.

Perspective Directions in Management of Severe Group Two Pulmonary Hypertension

To compare immediate results of mitral valve surgery in patients with severe pulmonary hypertension with versus without concomitant pulmonary artery denervation. From January to December 2015 30 patients were randomly assigned into two groups. Patients of one group underwent mitral valve surgery (comparison group), in the other group mitral valve surgery was accompanied by pulmonary artery ablation (ablation group). Both groups had comparable anthropometric, echocardiographic, and hemodynamics characteristics. There were no hospital mortality and specific ablation-related complications. Left ventricular remodeling and decrease of pulmonary artery pressure were observed in both groups at discharge. On the third day after surgery systolic and mean pulmonary artery pressure assessed by right heart catheterization were 48 and 22 versus 59 and 39 mm Hg in ablation and comparison group, respectively (p.

Effect of continuous positive airway pressure treatment on pulmonary artery pressure in patients with isolated obstructive sleep apnea: a meta-analysis.

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) can occur in patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in the absence of cardiac or lung disease. Data on the development and severity of PH, and the effect of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy on pulmonary artery (PA) pressures in these patients have been inconsistent in the literature. We sought to determine whether CPAP therapy affects PA pressures in patients with isolated OSA in this meta-analysis. We searched PubMed, Medline, EMBASE and other databases from January 1980 to August 2015. Studies of patients with OSA, defined as an apnea-hypopnea index >10 events/h, and PH, defined as PA pressure >25mmHg were included. Two reviewers independently extracted data and assessed risk of bias. A total of 222 patients from seven studies (341.53 person-years) had reported PA pressures before and after treatment with CPAP therapy. 77% of participants were men, with a mean age of 52.5years, a mean apnea-hypopnea index of 58 events/h, and mean PA pressure of 39.3±6.3mmHg. CPAP treatment duration ranged from 3 to 70months. Using fixed effects meta-analysis, CPAP therapy was associated with a decrease in PA pressure of 13.3mmHg (95% CI 12.7-14.0) in our study population. This meta-analysis found that CPAP therapy is associated with a significantly lower PA pressure in patients with isolated OSA and PH.

The effect of intravenous iloprost on pulmonary artery hypertension after paediatric congenital heart surgery.

To investigate the effects of intravenous iloprost on pulmonary artery hypertension (PAH) in infants undergoing congenital heart surgery. In this prospective, randomized study, the study group (n = 15) received a continuous infusion of iloprost (2.0 ng/kg/min) that was delivered immediately after weaning from cardiopulmonary bypass and continued for 72 h postoperatively. Patients in the control group (n = 12) were managed conventionally. The groups were compared in terms of postoperative data, including systolic and mean pulmonary artery (PA) pressures, PA/systemic pressure ratio, lactate level, PAH crisis, ventilation time, reintubation and lengths of intensive care unit (ICU) and hospital stay. Transthoracic echocardiography was used to assess PA pressures at 1 day, 7 days and 30 days after surgery. No mortality occurred. PAH crisis occurred in 2 (16.6%) patients in the control group and 4 (26.7%) patients in the study group (P = 0.53). Postoperative PA pressures and PA/systemic pressure ratios were similar between the groups (P > 0.05). The durations of ICU (P = 0.40) and hospital (P = 0.98) stays were similar between the groups. Echocardiographic studies demonstrated a significant decrease in postoperative PA pressures in the control (P = 0.001) and study (P = 0.0001) groups. However, no significant change was observed between the groups (P > 0.05). The Tukey multiple comparison test showed a significant decrease in PA pressures at each follow-up in both groups (P < 0.05). Intravenous iloprost demonstrated no additional benefit over the conventional management of infants with PAH after repair of intracardiac defects. Clinicians may prefer other alternative agents in infants with a high risk of PAH crisis.

Partial Anomalous Pulmonary Venous Return With Persistent Angina: Simulating Coronary Artery Disease

Partial anomalous pulmonary venous return (PAPVR) is an uncommon adult congenital heart disease caused by an abnormal return of one or more, but not all, of the pulmonary veins to the right atrium or indirectly through venous connections from the anomalous pulmonary vein. Presentations vary from incidental findings to severe heart failure and diagnosis could easily be missed. We report a case of PAPVR in a 51-year-old male with a history of coronary artery bypass surgery presenting with exertional dyspnea and chest discomfort which were initially interpreted as angina in light of patient’s known coronary disease and prior revascularization. Patient underwent surgical repair with redirection of the pulmonary connection to the left atrium. On follow-up, patient had symptomatic improvement and decrease in pulmonary artery pressures. Diagnosis of PAPVR may be particularly elusive when patient also has a more common diagnosis, such as coronary disease. Unexplained pulmonary hypertension should alert physicians to consider additional differential diagnoses including congenital heart disease despite the patient’s adult age. As evidenced in this patient, successful surgical repair can lead to gratifying results and improved prognosis. J Med Cases. 2015;6(11):485-487 doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.14740/jmc2309w

Longitudinal systolic strain of the bilayered ventricular septum during the first 72 hours of life in preterm infants.

Quantitative evaluation of right ventricular myocardial performance in preterm infants remains a challenge because of the limitations of conventional echocardiographic measurement and the complex geometry of the right ventricle (RV). Serial assessment of peak longitudinal systolic strain on the right and left sides of the ventricular septum (VS), RV, and left ventricle (LV) during the transitional period in preterm infants using two-dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiography is reported. In 21 preterm infants (33±2 gestational weeks, 1,913 ± 218 g birth weight) without mechanical ventilation, inotropic agents, or symptomatic patent ductus arteriosus (PDA), longitudinal strain (LS) was measured on both sides of the VS, RV free wall, and LV, along with conventional echocardiography at 1, 3, 6, 9, 12, 24, 48, and 72 h after birth. Correlations and factors associated with echocardiographic measurements were analyzed. LS was maintained on the four analyzed regions during the first 72h of life despite significant hemodynamic changes, including a decrease in pulmonary artery pressure and PDA closure. LS was significantly larger on the left side of the VS than on the right side of the VS at 1, 48, and 72h after birth. Preterm infants showed stable LS on both sides of the VS, the RV free wall, and the LV despite significant hemodynamic changes during the first 72h of life. These results suggest that the right and left sides of the VS respond differently to the complex cardiopulmonary transitions from fetal to neonatal life in preterm infants.

The Use of Inhaled Prostaglandins in Patients With ARDS

This study aimed to determine whether inhaled prostaglandins are associated with improvement in pulmonary physiology or mortality in patients with ARDS and assess adverse effects. The following data sources were used: PubMed, EMBASE, CINAHL, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, reference lists, conference proceedings, and ClinicalTrials.gov. Studies selected included randomized controlled trials and nonrandomized studies. For data extraction, two reviewers independently screened titles and abstracts for eligibility. With regard to data synthesis, 25 studies (two RCTs) published over 21 years (1993-2014) were included. The PROSPERO registration number was CRD42014013180. One randomized controlled trial showed no difference in the change in mean Pao2 to Fio2 ratio when comparing inhaled alprostadil to placebo: 141.2 (95% CI, 120.8-161.5) to 161.5 (95% CI, 134.6-188.3) vs 163.4 (95% CI, 140.8-186.0) to 186.8 (95% CI, 162.9-210.7), P = .21. Meta-analysis of the remaining studies demonstrated that inhaled prostaglandins were associated with improvement in Pao2 to Fio2 ratio (16 studies; 39.0% higher; 95% CI, 26.7%-51.3%), and Pao2 (eight studies; 21.4% higher; 95% CI, 12.2%-30.6%), and a decrease in pulmonary artery pressure (-4.8 mm Hg; 95% CI, -6.8 mm Hg to -2.8 mm Hg). Risk of bias and heterogeneity were high. Meta-regression found no association with publication year (P = .862), baseline oxygenation (P = .106), and ARDS etiology (P = .816) with the treatment effect. Hypotension occurred in 17.4% of patients in observational studies. In ARDS, inhaled prostaglandins improve oxygenation and decrease pulmonary artery pressures and may be associated with harm. Data are limited both in terms of methodologic quality and demonstration of clinical benefit. The use of inhaled prostaglandins in ARDS needs further study.

Increasing pulmonary artery pulsatile flow improves hypoxic pulmonary hypertension in piglets.

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a disease affecting distal pulmonary arteries (PA). These arteries are deformed, leading to right ventricular failure. Current treatments are limited. Physiologically, pulsatile blood flow is detrimental to the vasculature. In response to sustained pulsatile stress, vessels release nitric oxide (NO) to induce vasodilation for self-protection. Based on this observation, this study developed a protocol to assess whether an artificial pulmonary pulsatile blood flow could induce an NO-dependent decrease in pulmonary artery pressure. One group of piglets was exposed to chronic hypoxia for 3 weeks and compared to a control group of piglets. Once a week, the piglets underwent echocardiography to assess PAH severity. At the end of hypoxia exposure, the piglets were subjected to a pulsatile protocol using a pulsatile catheter. After being anesthetized and prepared for surgery, the jugular vein of the piglet was isolated and the catheter was introduced through the right atrium, the right ventricle and the pulmonary artery, under radioscopic control. Pulmonary artery pressure (PAP) was measured before (T0), immediately after (T1) and 30 min after (T2) the pulsatile protocol. It was demonstrated that this pulsatile protocol is a safe and efficient method of inducing a significant reduction in mean PAP via an NO-dependent mechanism. These data open up new avenues for the clinical management of PAH.

The use of oxide donor L-arginine in the treatment of patients with copd

The work is dedicated to studying the effect of nitric oxide L-arginine on the course of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) III, groups C and D in the acute phase. When comparing the efficacy of traditional treatment of exacerbations of COPD therapy with the inclusion of L-arginine, positive effects on FEV1 and FVC parameters was established. There was a significant (p&lt;0,05) decrease in pulmonary artery pressure in patients during treatment with L arginine. It was proved that sleepiness in the patients treated with L-arginine decreased by 19,8 % (p&lt;0,05) compared to base therapy. Similar results were obtained in reducing levels of depression. The inclusion of donor nitric oxide into the medical complex boosted subjective assessment of quality of life for patients.

Stem and progenitor cell therapy for pulmonary arterial hypertension: effects on the right ventricle (2013 Grover Conference Series).

In experimental animals and in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), a wide spectrum of structural and functional conditions is known that may be responsible for the switch of a state of "compensated" right ventricular (RV) hypertrophy to a state of RV failure. In recent years, therapy with differentiated cells, endothelial progenitor cells, and mesenchymal stem cells has been shown to cause partial or complete reversal of pathological characteristics of PAH. The therapeutic effects of stem or progenitor cell therapy are considered to be (1) paracrine effects from stem or progenitor cells that had engrafted in the myocardium (or elsewhere), by compounds that have anti-inflammatory, antiapoptotic, and proangiogenic actions and (2) unloading effects on the right ventricle due to stem or progenitor cell-induced decrease in pulmonary vascular resistance and decrease in pulmonary artery pressure.

The effect of prosthesis-patient mismatchon early myocardial remodeling after aortic valve replacement

The reductionofan effective orifice area is associated with the development of the phenomenon of prosthesis-patient mismatch (PPM). The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of PPM on the immediate results of surgical treatment in patients with aortic valve stenosis. The study included 50 patients who underwent aortic valve replacement. All patients were divided into 2 groups: with PPM (27 patients) and without it (23 patients). Immediate postoperative results were not statistically different. Analysis of echocardiographic data showed worse results in patients with PPM. It was marked reduction of LV EDV on 23.43 ± 8.93 ml in the group without PPM and on 16.5 ± 1.76 ml in patients with PPM (p<0.05). Also it was noted a greater decrease of pulmonary artery pressure (16.56 ± 12.94 mm Hg) compared with the group with PPM (8.44 ± 7.38 mm Hg), p<0.05. The presence of PPM in patients after aortic valve replacement leads to a slower reverse remodeling of the myocardium.

Partial Anomalous Pulmonary Venous Return With Persistent Angina: Simulating Coronary Artery Disease

Partial anomalous pulmonary venous return (PAPVR) is an uncommon adult congenital heart disease caused by an abnormal return of one or more, but not all, of the pulmonary veins to the right atrium or indirectly through venous connections from the anomalous pulmonary vein. Presentations vary from incidental findings to severe heart failure and diagnosis could easily be missed. We report a case of PAPVR in a 51-year-old male with a history of coronary artery bypass surgery presenting with exertional dyspnea and chest discomfort which were initially interpreted as angina in light of patient’s known coronary disease and prior revascularization. Patient underwent surgical repair with redirection of the pulmonary connection to the left atrium. On follow-up, patient had symptomatic improvement and decrease in pulmonary artery pressures. Diagnosis of PAPVR may be particularly elusive when patient also has a more common diagnosis, such as coronary disease. Unexplained pulmonary hypertension should alert physicians to consider additional differential diagnoses including congenital heart disease despite the patient’s adult age. As evidenced in this patient, successful surgical repair can lead to gratifying results and improved prognosis.

TCT-726 Patients With Aortic Stenosis and Pulmonary Hypertension Experience a Decrease in Pulmonary Artery Pressure Following Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement

TCT-726 Patients With Aortic Stenosis and Pulmonary Hypertension Experience a Decrease in Pulmonary Artery Pressure Following Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement

Improvements in pulmonary artery pressure and right ventricular function after ultrasound-accelerated catheter-directed thrombolysis for the treatment of pulmonary embolism.

To evaluate the efficacy of ultrasound-accelerated catheter-directed thrombolysis (UACDT) in the treatment of patients with massive and submassive pulmonary embolism (PE). Twenty-two patients (13 males and nine females; age range, 38 to 71 years; mean age, 53.7 years) with massive or submassive PE were treated with UACDT with the EKOS EkoSonic® system. All patients exhibited acute symptoms, computed tomography (CT) evidence of large thrombus burden, and evidence of right ventricular (RV) dysfunction and/or failure. Clinical outcomes and complications, RV pressures, and thrombus clearance were evaluated. Treatment of 22 patients resulted in complete thrombus clearance (≥90%) in 77.2% of the patients, and near-complete (50% to 90%) clearance in 22.8%. The median tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) dose for all patients in our study was 21.0 mg (range 16 to 35 mg) and the median infusion time was 20.5 hours (range 12 to 28 hours). Measurements before and after treatment showed a decrease in pulmonary artery pressure (67 ± 14 to 34 ± 11 mmHg [systolic], p < 0.001). The RV/LV ratio decreased from 1.29 ± 0.17 to 0.92 ± 0.11 at follow-up (p < 0.001). Modified Miller score was significantly reduced (from 28 ± 4 to 13 ± 5, p < 0.001) in 21 of 22 (95%) patients who survived to discharge. There were only two minor access site bleeding complications, neither requiring transfusion. This study demonstrates safety and effectiveness of UACDT in patients with acute PE with a large thrombus burden.