Does thrombolysis for pulmonary embolism reduce the risk of chronic complications?
Apsey, C.; Jawad, M.; Daschel, M.; Woosey, D.; Limb, C.; Wilde, M.
Acute Medicine 20(1): 15-17
2021
ISSN/ISBN: 1747-4892 PMID: 33749690 Document Number: 18176
We assessed the efficacy of thrombolysis in avoiding long-term complications. Notes of patients thrombolysed for PE in the 2-year period were reviewed. The initial CTPA and echocardiogram results before thrombolysis were compared to the results of follow up imaging repeated after 6 months. Twenty-two patients were thrombolysed for PE. 14 patients had sub-massive PE and 8 patients had massive PE. The right ventricle (RV) was dilated on pre-thrombolysis echocardiogram in 16 patients. On follow up echocardiography all patients with massive PE (6 studies) had a normal RV size, with pulmonary artery pressures (PAP) of 29mmHg. Follow up echocardiography of patients with submassive PE (13 studies) showed 11 patients with a normal RV, with PAP of 28 mmHg.
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