Project description:A 28-year-old policeman presented with left lower limb deep vein thrombus, pulmonary embolism and a highly mobile right atrial clot. Thrombolytic therapy with IV Tenecteplase was administered. Within a few minutes after the Tenecteplase bolus, the patient's condition worsened dramatically with severe hypotension and hypoxemia. Immediate bedside transthoracic echocardiogram revealed that the mobile right atrium clot had disappeared completely presumably having migrated to the pulmonary circulation thus worsening the clinical condition. With intensive supportive measures the patient's condition was stabilized and he made a complete recovery. Prior to discharge, the echocardiogram revealed normal right ventricular function and a CT pulmonary angiogram performed after 2 months revealed near complete resolution of pulmonary thrombi. Thrombolytic therapy for right heart thrombus with pulmonary embolism can be a reasonable first line therapy but may be associated with hemodynamic worsening due to clot migration.
Project description:IntroductionPatients at intermediate-high risk of developing a pulmonary embolism (PE) are very likely to experience adverse outcomes, such as cardiovascular instability and death. The role of thrombolytic therapy in intermediate-high-risk PE remains controversial.ObjectivesThis study aimed to determine the efficacy and safety of low-dose urokinase (UK) thrombolytic therapy for intermediate-high-risk PE.Patients and methodsThis retrospective study included 81 consecutive patients with intermediate-high-risk PE from two centers. Patients received low-dose UK or low-molecular-weight heparin (anticoagulant therapy group). The efficacy outcomes were mortality, computed tomography pulmonary angiography (CTPA)-confirmed absorption, and dyspnea. Safety was assessed as the incidence of bleedings.ResultsThe in-hospital mortality, 9-month mortality, and long-term mortality at the last follow-up were comparable for the low-dose UK group and the anticoagulant therapy group (6.45% vs. 0%, p = 0.144, 9.68% vs. 8.16%, p = 0.815, and 12.90% vs. 12.24%, p = 0.931, respectively). CTPA-confirmed absorption at one month after admission was higher in the low-dose UK group than in the anticoagulant therapy group (p = 0.016). The incidences of short-term dyspnea at discharge and long-term dyspnea at the last follow-up were lower in the low-dose UK group than in the anticoagulant therapy group (27.59% vs. 52%, p = 0.035, 33.33% vs. 58.14%, p = 0.043, respectively). No major bleeding occurred. The incidence of minor bleeding was not significantly different between the two groups (3.23% vs. 6%, p = 0.974).ConclusionIn intermediate-high-risk PE, a low-dose UK might increase CTPA-confirmed absorption and improve short-term and long-term dyspnea without affecting mortality or increasing the bleeding risk.
Project description:An 86-year-old male with history of metastatic prostate carcinoma and hypertension was admitted due to acute onset dyspnea and lower extremity pain and swelling. Transthoracic echocardiography revealed a large right atrial thrombus extending in to the right ventricle. Within 12 h, the patient developed severe hypoxemia, tachypnea with sustained hypotension and cardiogenic shock due to presumed massive pulmonary embolism. The patient underwent emergency pulmonary angiography which showed large emboli in the right main pulmonary artery extending in to the middle and lower lobe branches. An ultrasonic-accelerated thrombolytic catheter was placed in the right main pulmonary artery for continuous infusion of alteplase for 20 h. Repeat pulmonary angiogram showed resolution of the large pulmonary emboli, with normal flow in to the distal pulmonary arteries. Significant improvement of hemodynamics, symptoms and hypoxemia occurred as well.
Project description:We present a case of cerebral embolism associated with a left atrial myxoma that was treated with intravenous thrombolytic therapy. A 79-year-old right-handed man with no history of neurological or psychiatric illnesses was referred to our hospital because of confusion. He had been self-supported in the activity of daily living and could enjoy gardening until just before his admission. He had aphasia, left conjugate deviation, right hemiparesis, and right pathological reflexes. His NIHSS score was 24. Cranial DWI showed hyperintense lesions in the left middle cerebral artery territory, and MRA revealed left middle cerebral artery occlusion. We started treatment with the recombinant tissue plasminogen activator alteplase intravenously 3 h after the onset. However, the therapy was ineffective, and the NIHSS score was 25 on the second day. A transthoracic echocardiogram and heart MRI showed a left atrial myxoma. However, surgery was contraindicated because of the patient's poor general condition. Although intravenous recombinant tissue plasminogen activator is a reasonable treatment for stroke patients, even with a cardiac myxoma, we cannot always expect good effects, especially if the emboli are parts of the tumor itself. In this case, we could not perform an endovascular mechanical embolectomy; however, we speculate that mechanical embolus retrieval in cerebral ischemia might be effective in such cases.
Project description:We report a case of bilateral renal infarction following thrombolytic and anticoagulant therapy for left ventricular embolism-induced lower leg artery ischemia. Imaging demonstrated thrombi from the left ventricle leading to bilateral renal arterial occlusion. Catheter embolectomy and long-term oral anticoagulant therapy were initiated, and the patient recovered with no residual complications. (Level of Difficulty: Intermediate.).
Project description:ObjectivesThis survey sought to characterize the national prescribing patterns and barriers to the use of thrombolytic agents in the treatment of pulmonary embolism, with a specific focus on treatment during actual or imminent cardiac arrest.DesignA 19-question international, cross-sectional survey on thrombolytic use in pulmonary embolism was developed, validated, and administered. A multivariable logistic regression was conducted to determine factors predictive of utilization of thrombolytics in the setting of cardiac arrest secondary to pulmonary embolism.SettingInternational survey study.SubjectsPhysicians, pharmacists, nurses, and other healthcare professionals who were members of the Society of Critical Care Medicine.InterventionsNone.Measurements and main resultsThrombolytic users were compared with nonusers. Respondents (n = 272) predominately were physicians (62.1%) or pharmacists (30.5%) practicing in an academic medical center (54.8%) or community teaching setting (24.6%). Thrombolytic users (n = 177; 66.8%) were compared with nonusers (n = 88; 33.2%) Thrombolytic users were more likely to work in pulmonary/critical care (80.2% thrombolytic use vs 59.8%; p < 0.01) and emergency medicine (6.8% vs 3.5%; p < 0.01). Users were more likely to have an institutional guideline or policy in place pertaining to the use of thrombolytics in cardiac arrest (27.8% vs 13.6%; p < 0.01) or have a pulmonary embolism response team (38.6% vs 19.3%; p < 0.01). Lack of evidence supporting use and the risk of adverse outcomes were barriers to thrombolytic use. Working in a pulmonary/critical care environment (odds ratio, 2.36; 95% CI, 1.24-4.52) and comfort level (odds ratio, 2.77; 95% CI, 1.7-4.53) were predictive of thrombolytic use in the multivariable analysis.ConclusionsMost survey respondents used thrombolytics in the setting of cardiac arrest secondary to known or suspected pulmonary embolism. This survey study adds important data to the literature surrounding thrombolytics for pulmonary embolism as it describes thrombolytic user characteristic, barriers to use, and common prescribing practices internationally.
Project description:BackgroundThrombolytic agents and anticoagulants are the two classes of medication used in the treatment of acute pulmonary embolism (PE). There is continuous renewal and iteration of thrombolytic agents, and the efficacy and adverse effects of different agents have different effects on PE due to their different mechanisms of action.ObjectivesThe aim of the study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of different thrombolytic agents in the treatment of all types of acute PE: hemodynamically unstable PE (massive PE) and hemodynamically stable PE (submassive PE and low-risk PE), using a network meta-analysis.MethodsA search was conducted of the following databases: PubMed, The Cochrane Library, Embase, and Web of Science to collect randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing thrombolytic agents with heparin or other thrombolytic agents in patients with acute PE; the clinical outcomes included patient mortality, recurrent PE, pulmonary artery systolic pressure (PASP) after treatment, and major and minor bleeding. The measurement duration of outcome indicators was the longest follow-up period. Thereafter, a network meta-analysis was performed using a Bayesian network framework.ResultsA total of 29 RCTs (3,067 patients) were included, of which 6 studies (304 patients) were massive PE, 14 studies (2,173 patients) were submassive PE, 1 study (83 patients) included massive and submassive PE, and 8 studies (507 patients) were PE of unknown type. The treatment regimens included thrombolytic therapy (alteplase, reteplase, tenecteplase, streptokinase, and urokinase) and anticoagulant therapy alone. The results showed that the mortality using thrombolytic agents (except tenecteplase) was significantly lower compared with heparin. The recurrence of PE with alteplase was significantly lower compared with heparin (RR = 0.23, 95% CI, 0.04, 0.65). The PASP after using alteplase was significantly lower compared with heparin (mean difference = -11.36, 95% CI, -21.45, -1.56). Compared with heparin, the incidence of minor bleeding associated with tenecteplase was higher (RR = 3.27, 95% CI, 1.36, 7.39); compared with streptokinase, the incidence of minor bleeding associated with tenecteplase was higher (RR = 3.22, 95% CI, 1.01, 11.10).ConclusionFor patients with acute PE, four thrombolytic agents (alteplase, reteplase, streptokinase, and urokinase) appeared to be superior in efficacy compared with anticoagulants alone due to a reduction in mortality and no increase in bleeding risk. Alteplase may be a better choice because it not only reduced mortality but also reduced PE recurrence rate and treated PASP. Tenecteplase did not reduce mortality compared with anticoagulants alone and may not be a good choice of thrombolytic agent due to an increase in minor bleeding compared with streptokinase and anticoagulants alone. Thrombolytic drugs should be rationally selected to optimize the thrombolytic regimen and achieve as good a balance as possible between thrombolysis and bleeding.
Project description:Perioperative pulmonary embolism can go undetected until the sudden onset of cardiopulmonary collapse. Point of care echocardiography in such setting can narrow the differential diagnosis of precipitous instability and facilitate tailored, rather than empiric, therapy in the event of a massive pulmonary embolism. We describe the diagnosis and successful multidisciplinary management of intraoperative massive pulmonary embolism aided by both transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography. Key aspects regarding the classification and treatment of pulmonary embolism are subsequently reviewed.
Project description:Time and dose related expression profiles of rat right heart tissue in microsphere bead model for Pulmonary embolism Keywords: Time course and dose response in experimental PE
Project description:Rats were given pulmonary embolism by i.v. injection of 25 micron polystyrene microspheres or 0.01% Tween20 solution as vehicle control Embolism of microspheres is irreversible and causes dose dependent pulmonary hypertension Keywords: time course and dose response