Pulmonary embolism (PE) is the leading cause of in-hospital morbidity and mortality
and accounts for approximately 100,000 deaths in the United States and 300,000 deaths
in Europe annually. Although societal guidelines for low- and high-risk PE are well
established, the present management of submassive (intermediate)-risk PE is evolving.
Catheter-directed thrombolysis (CDT) represents a viable treatment option for treatment
of submassive PE given its ability to rapidly reduce right heart strain with an acceptably
low rate of major hemorrhagic complication. The current review aims to discuss the
existing guidelines and literature supporting CDT for PE and also to examine upcoming
areas of future research to support its adoption in the algorithm for the management
of submassive PE.
CDT - pulmonary thrombolysis - submassive PE
