title: Thrombus resolution and hemodynamic recovery using ultrasound-accelerated thrombolysis in acute pulmonary embolism.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate retrospectively the safety profile and clinical success of ultrasound-accelerated thrombolysis for acute pulmonary embolism (PE) with a standard lytic infusion protocol.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective study was performed at a single center treating patients with acute PE between October 2009 and April 2012. On diagnosis of submassive or massive PE by pulmonary computed tomography angiography or ventilation/perfusion scan, all patients received anticoagulation and treatment using the EkoSonic endovascular system (EKOS Corporation, Bothell, Washington). The ultrasound-accelerated thrombolytic infusion catheters were placed into the affected pulmonary arteries to facilitate administration of recombinant tissue plasminogen activator at 0.5-1.0mg/h/catheter.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Treatment of 60 patients (35 men, 25 women; age 61 y±16; 53 bilateral PE; 48 submassive PE) resulted in complete thrombus clearance (≥90%) in 57% and near-complete (50%-90%) clearance in 41% of patients after infusion of 35.1 mg±11.1 of recombinant tissue plasminogen activator over 19.6 hours±6.0. Measurements before and after treatment showed a decrease in pulmonary artery pressure (47 mm Hg±15 to 38 mm Hg±12 [systolic], P<.001) and Miller score (25±3 to 17±6, P<.001). There were 57 patients who survived to discharge. All three patients who died in the hospital presented with massive PE. On 90-day follow-up, 56 patients (93%) were alive.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The current study demonstrates effectiveness and safety of ultrasound-accelerated thrombolysis in patients with acute PE with a large thrombus burden.
authors.affiliation: Department of Interventional Radiology, Holmes Regional Medical Center, Melbourne, FL 32901, USA. rkennedymd@gmail.com
authors.forename: Robert J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Kennedy
authors.forename: Hai H
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Kenney
authors.forename: Brian L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Dunfee
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D005260:Female; D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D020127:Recovery of Function; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015912:Thrombolytic Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D010959:Tissue Plasminogen Activator / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D018084:Ultrasonography, Interventional / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents; D010959:Tissue Plasminogen Activator