Catheter-based therapy for acute pulmonary embolism: An overview of current evidence

Systemic thrombolysis for acute pulmonary embolism reduces the risk of death and cardiovascular collapse but is associated with an increased rate of bleeding. The desire to minimize the risk of bleeding events has driven the development of catheter-based strategies for pulmonary reperfusion in pulmonary embolism. These catheter-based strategies utilize lower-dose fibrinolytic regimens or purely mechanical thromboaspiration to expedite removal of the embolus. The most comprehensive data on catheter-based techniques come from trials of ultrasound-facilitated catheter fibrinolysis. This technique relieves right ventricular pressure overload with a lower risk of major bleeding and intracranial haemorrhage than historical rates observed with systemic fibrinolysis in intermediate- to high-risk pulmonary embolism. Two aspiration thrombectomy devices recently demonstrated significant reductions in right ventricle/left ventricle ratio and a low major adverse event rate in patients with intermediate-risk pulmonary embolism. However, further research is required to determine the optimal application of ultrasound-facilitated catheter fibrinolysis and other catheter-based therapies in patients with acute pulmonary embolism.