title: AngioJet rheolytic thrombectomy in patients presenting with high-risk pulmonary embolism and cardiogenic shock: a feasibility pilot study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Pulmonary embolism (PE) associated with haemodynamic instability has exceedingly high mortality. While intravenous thrombolysis is considered the therapy of choice, percutaneous mechanical thrombectomy may represent an alternative treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The impact of AngioJet® rheolytic thrombectomy (RT) in PE associated with cardiogenic shock was assessed in a single-centre prospective pilot study. Ten consecutive PE patients in cardiogenic shock were included in the study. Six patients had thrombolysis contraindications, eight were intubated before the RT procedure and six had experienced cardiac arrest prior to the RT procedure. The RT procedure was technically successful in all cases. The Miller index improved from 25 to 20 (p=0.002). The shock index decreased from 1.22 to 0.9 (p=0.129). Thrombolytic agents were administered during or after the procedure in four patients because of progressive clinical deterioration. Seven patients died in the first 24 hours: two from multi-organ failure, one from post-anoxic cerebral oedema, and four from progressive right heart failure. The three survivors had favourable outcomes at one year.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study suggests that the AngioJet® RT procedure may be safely performed in PE patients with cardiogenic shock. However, despite angiographic and haemodynamic improvements, the procedure does not appear to influence the dismal prognosis of these high-risk patients.
authors.affiliation: Cardiology Division, University Hospital, Geneva, Switzerland. Robert.Bonvini@hcuge.ch
authors.forename: Robert F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Bonvini
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Roffi
authors.forename: Henri
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bounameaux
authors.forename: Stéphane
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Noble
authors.forename: Hajo
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Müller
authors.forename: Pierre-Frédéric
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: Keller
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Jolliet
authors.forename: François P
authors.initials: FP
authors.lastname: Sarasin
authors.forename: Olivier T
authors.initials: OT
authors.lastname: Rutschmann
authors.forename: Karim
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bendjelid
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Righini
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001929:Brain Edema / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality; D004867:Equipment Design; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality; D006439:Hemodynamics; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009102:Multiple Organ Failure / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D012770:Shock, Cardiogenic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D013557:Switzerland; D017131:Thrombectomy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000401:mortality; D015912:Thrombolytic Therapy; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome