Management of pulmonary embolism with rheolytic thrombectomy.

Background: Catheter thrombectomy combining thrombus destruction with local thrombolysis has been used in patients with pulmonary embolism (PE) who are unstable or have significant right heart dysfunction, but have contraindications to systemic thrombolytic therapy.

Objectives: To assess the outcomes of patients who underwent pulmonary embolectomy using a commercially available thrombectomy device.

Methods: A retrospective chart review of patients who underwent pulmonary embolectomy between March 2007 and August 2009 was performed.