Giornale italiano di cardiologia : organo ufficiale della Federazione italiana di cardiologia : organo ufficiale della Società italiana di chirurgia cardiaca
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G Ital Cardiol (Rome) · May 2008
[Percutaneous rheolytic thrombectomy with AngioJet for pulmonary embolism: methods and results in the experience of a high-volume center].
Pulmonary embolism is a common disease with significant mortality. Anticoagulant and thrombolytic therapies are a mainstay in the management of acute pulmonary embolism, especially with hemodynamic compromise. However, systemic drugs cannot achieve timely and effective treatment of acute pulmonary embolism in all patients. Recently, rheolytic thrombectomy has been proven to be effective in the treatment of massive thrombosis in vein grafts. The purpose of this study was to describe the rheolytic thrombectomy procedure and to evaluate the efficacy of thrombus removal using the AngioJet catheter in patients with acute massive and submassive pulmonary embolism. ⋯ Percutaneous rheolytic thrombectomy using the AngioJet catheter may be a valid treatment option for patients with massive or submassive pulmonary embolism with rapid and significant hemodynamic improvement and encouraging results at early and long-term follow-up. Greater laboratory and operator experience yield better clinical results.