Manual aspiration thrombectomy with a standard PTCA guiding catheter for treatment of acute massive pulmonary thromboembolism

PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of percutaneous manual aspiration thrombectomy for the treatment of acute massive pulmonary thromboembolism with hemodynamic impairment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Over a period of 6 years and 9 months, 15 patients with hemodynamic impairment (4 men, 11 women; aged 27-79 years) were treated by manual clot aspiration with a standard, large-lumen percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) guiding catheter. RESULTS: After treatment, angiography demonstrated improvement of pulmonary perfusion in all patients (mean Miller score: before treatment 18.9, after treatment 12.1; P < 0.01). Mean pulmonary arterial pressure decreased from 29.6 to 22.5 mmHg (P < 0.01). The mean treatment time was 114.2 min. All of the patients survived and their clinical status improved. No patient had any significant complication. CONCLUSION: Percutaneous manual aspiration thrombectomy with a standard 8 Fr PTCA guiding catheter achieved rapid, safe improvement of the hemodynamic situation in cases of acute massive pulmonary thromboembolism, with low cost both in terms of time and money.