Prolonged Ultrasound-Assisted Catheter-Directed Low-Dose Thrombolysis for Acute Pulmonary Embolism Unresponsive to Systemic Thrombolysis

Abstract

Our experience suggests that ultrasound-assisted thrombolysis with the EkoSonic system could be a valid bail-out strategy in cases of massive pulmonary embolism unresponsive to systemic thrombolysis and provides insight into the role of prolonged administration time in non-high bleeding risk patients with elevated thrombotic burden and initial suboptimal results. In this setting, multimodality imaging could guide patient selection and monitor treatment efficacy to individualize its duration in cases of slow hemodynamic improvement.

Keywords: EkoSonic; pulmonary embolism; pulmonary hypertension; thrombolysis.