title: Efficacy of alteplase thrombolysis for ED treatment of pulmonary embolism with shock.
abstract: Our objective was to assess efficacy and tolerance of thrombolysis using 0.6 mg/kg of Alteplase in patients with massive pulmonary embolism defined as the association of a pulmonary embolism with shock. We retrospectively included 21 patients presenting with a massive pulmonary embolism confirmed by either scintigraphy or spiral computed tomography. Patients were treated on the basis of a standard rationale followed by thrombolysis with 0.6 mg/kg Alteplase over a period of 15 minutes. Hospital mortality, vital signs before and 2 hours after thrombolysis, and incidence of hemorrhagic events were recorded. Five patients (23.8%) died, 4 of these deaths occurred during the first 4 hours after hospital admission. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure (Sp02) were significantly improved 2 hours after the beginning of thrombolysis. Five minor hemorrhagic events occurred. This study demonstrates that for patients with pulmonary embolism and shock, a bolus treatment with Alteplase is potentially effective and well tolerated.
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, University Hospital, Nantes, France. pleconte@chu-nantes.fr
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Le Conte
authors.forename: Ludovic
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Huchet
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Trewick
authors.forename: Céline
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Longo
authors.forename: Irshaad
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Vial
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Batard
authors.forename: Danielle
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Yatim
authors.forename: Marie Dominique
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Touzé
authors.forename: Denis
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Baron
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000465:Algorithms; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D005260:Female; D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012769:Shock / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D015912:Thrombolytic Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D010959:Tissue Plasminogen Activator / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents; D010959:Tissue Plasminogen Activator