title: [A case of massive pulmonary embolism treated with angiojet thrombectomy system].
abstract: Pulmonary embolism is a common disease process associated with a high mortality rate. In patients with massive pulmonary embolism, systemic thrombolysis is considered to be the treatment of choice, but surgical or catheter thrombectomy may be alternative emergency treatments. A 36-year-old woman with massive pulmonary embolism and contraindications to thrombolytic therapy was treated with catheter thrombectomy using the Angiojet thrombectomy system. The procedure was successfully performed with an excellent immediate angiographic result at the site of the rheolytic thrombectomy. The clinical improvement was maintained while in-hospital and during a 4-month follow-up period, with a decrease to a normal level of the peak systolic pulmonary pressure. Our case report indicates that in patients with contraindications to systemic thrombolysis, catheter thrombectomy for massive pulmonary embolism may constitute a life-saving intervention.
authors.affiliation: U O di Cardiologia Interventistica, Dipartimento di Malattie Cardiovascolari, Azienda Ospedaliera San Filippo Neri, Roma. g.speciale@yahoo.it
authors.forename: Giulio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Speciale
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Pelliccia
authors.forename: Vittorio
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Vitalone
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Segneri
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Valentini
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Richichi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D013902:Radiography, Thoracic; D017131:Thrombectomy / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome