Endovascular treatment of a haemodynamically unstable massive pulmonary embolism using fibrinolysis and fragmentation. Experience with 111 patients in a single centre. Why don't we follow ACCP recommendations?

Abstract

Introduction: Fibrinolysis is recommended in several consensus documents for the treatment of a haemodynamically unstable massive pulmonary embolism (HUMPE).

Material and methods: A total of 111 patients were treated in a single centre from January 2001 to December 2009. They were 55 males and 56 females diagnosed with HUMPE (systolic arterial pressure>90 mmHg) with at least two of the following criteria: Miller index>0, ventricular dysfunction, and need of vasoactive drugs. Local fibrinolysis with urokinase was performed in all cases, and fragmentation with a pig-tail catheter in the majority of them. An inferior vena cava (IVC) filter was implanted in 94 patients as a prophylactic measure.

Results: Technical success was 100%. The Miller index improved from 0.7 ± 0.12, pre-treatment, to 0.09 ± 0.16. The mean pulmonary arterial pressure fell from 39.93 ± 7.0 mmHg to 20.47 ± 3.3 mmHg in the 30-90 days review. Of the 94 patients with IVC filters implanted, 79% were withdrawn satisfactorily. Seven patients died: 3 due to their neoplasia, 3 due to right cardiac failure at 1, 7 and 30 days, and another died of a brain haemorrhage in the first 24 hours. There were complications in 12.6% of the cases, of which 4.5% were major.

Conclusion: Local fibrinolysis with fragmentation achieves a rapid return to normal of the pulmonary pressure and is a safe and effective method for the treatment of HUMPE.