Ultrasound-assisted thrombolysis for acute pulmonary embolism: a systematic review.

Abstract

Pulmonary embolism remains a common and potentially life-threatening disease. For patients with intermediate- and high-risk pulmonary embolism, catheter-based revascularization therapy has emerged as potential alternative to systemic thrombolysis or surgical embolectomy. Ultrasound-assisted catheter-directed thrombolysis is a contemporary catheter-based technique and is the focus of the present review. Ultrasound-assisted catheter-directed thrombolysis is more effective in reversing right ventricular dysfunction and dilatation in comparison with anticoagulation alone in patients at intermediate risk. However, a direct comparison of ultrasound-assisted thrombolysis with systemic thrombolysis or surgical thrombectomy is not available. Ultrasound-assisted thrombolysis with initial intrapulmonary thrombolytic bolus may also be effective in high-risk patients, but evidence from randomized trials is not available. This review summarizes current data on ultrasound-assisted thrombolysis for acute pulmonary embolism.

• Authors: Rolf P Engelberger, Nils Kucher
• Journal: European heart journal (Eur Heart J) Vol. 35 Issue 12 Pg. 758-64 (Mar 2014) ISSN: 1522-9645 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 24497337 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Review, Systematic Review)

Chemical References

• Fibrinolytic Agents
• Recombinant Proteins
• Tissue Plasminogen Activator

Topics

• Acute Disease
• Catheterization (methods)
• Combined Modality Therapy
• Fibrinolytic Agents (administration & dosage)
• Humans
• Mechanical Thrombolysis (methods)
• Pulmonary Embolism (therapy)
• Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
• Recombinant Proteins (administration & dosage)
• Tissue Plasminogen Activator (administration & dosage)
• Ultrasonography, Interventional (methods)