Outcomes of Catheter-Directed Therapy Plus Anticoagulation Versus Anticoagulation Alone for Submassive and Massive Pulmonary Embolism.

Background: Catheter-directed therapy (CDT) offers an alternative treatment to systemic thrombolysis for patients with massive and submassive pulmonary embolism.

Methods: A retrospective review of 105 consecutive massive and submassive pulmonary embolisms over 2 years was performed. Thirty-six patients (9 massive, 27 submassive) were treated with CDT, consisting of aspiration thrombectomy (18), ultrasound-assisted thrombolysis (8), or both (10).