Catheter-Based Therapies for Pulmonary Emboli

More aggressive therapy for acute pulmonary embolism beyond anticoagulation is indicated in patients at higher risk for mortality and morbidity, namely those suffering from massive and possibly submassive disease. Catheter-based thrombolysis, catheter-based mechanical thrombus debulking, or combinations of these offer opportunities for rapid clot reduction and clinical improvement with a lower bleeding risk than systemic thrombolysis and perhaps greater efficacy. Optimal low-dose regimens for direct thrombolysis have not been defined just as optimal techniques and devices for mechanical therapy have not been developed, underscoring the need for further work.