Article ID Journal Published Year Pages File Type
3006726 Progress in Cardiovascular Diseases 2010 9 Pages PDF
Abstract

Massive pulmonary embolism carries a high mortality rate as a result of right ventricular failure. In addition to anticoagulation, systemic thrombolysis is the standard first line of therapy for patients with life-threatening massive pulmonary embolism. Surgical embolectomy is often considered in patients with contraindications to receiving systemic thrombolysis or when thrombolysis has failed. Surgical embolectomy is not without inherent risk and limitations.Although there is a paucity of large clinical trials, available data suggests catheter-based treatment of massive pulmonary embolism restores hemodynamic stability and thus is an alternative to surgical therapy.

Related Topics
Health Sciences Medicine and Dentistry Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine
Authors
, ,