Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 29, 2026

Prehospital Thrombolysis: A Manual from Berlin
Published on: November 26, 2013
[Comparison of thrombolysis and anticoagulation in pulmonary thromboembolism: a meta-analysis]
1Beijing Chaoyang Hospital-Beijing Institute of Respiratory Medicine, Capital University of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100020, China.
Objective:
To pool the data of studies about thrombolysis in pulmonary thromboembolism (PTE) and evaluate the efficacy and safety of thrombolysis.
Methods:
The randomized clinical trials (RCTs) that compared the efficacy or safety of thrombolysis and anticoagulation in massive or submassive PTE were chosen from MEDLINE disks from 1966 to May of 2003 and CBM disks from 1978 to May of 2003. A meta-analysis was employed to evaluate the results of the two therapies.
Results:
Twelve RCTs including 884 cases were analyzed. Compared with anticoagulation, the total OR of mortality and recurrence of patients with PTE treated with thrombolysis were 0.975 (95% CI 0.504 - 1.886) and 0.653 (95% CI 0.378 - 1.127) respectively, non-significant difference (P > 0.05). The total OR of bleeding in thrombolysis was 2.461 (95% CI 1.636 - 3.702, P < 0.01).
Conclusions:
Compared with anticoagulation, thrombolysis cannot reduce the mortality or recurrence of PTE. Thrombolysis increases the risk of complication of bleeding.
Related Concept Videos
Pulmonary Embolism II: Diagnostic Studies and Interprofessional Care
Venous Thrombosis III: Interprofessional Care
Pulmonary Embolism III: Nursing Management
Pulmonary Embolism I: Introduction
Pulmonary Embolism I: Introduction
Anticoagulant Drugs: Low-Molecular-Weight Heparins