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Massive Pulmonary Embolism: Treatment with the Rotarex Thrombectomy System

CardioVascular and Interventional Radiology volume 34, pages 106–113 (2011)Cite this article

Abstract

This study was designed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of percutaneous mechanical thrombectomy (PMT) for acute massive pulmonary embolism (PE). Fourteen patients (8 men, 6 women) with a mean age of 55.4 (range, 38–71) years with acute massive PE were initially diagnosed by computed tomography (CT) and confirmed by pulmonary angiography. All patients presented with acute PE symptoms and hemodynamic compromise. Each patient was treated with Straub Rotarex thrombectomy device and five patients received additional thrombolysis. Technique success and clinical improvement were achieved in all patients without major complications. The mean pulmonary artery pressure (PAP) decreased from 37.6 ± 6.6 to 29 ± 6.4 mmHg (P < 0.01) after PMT. Partial arterial pressures of O2 (PaO2) increased from 61.1 ± 9.2 to 88 ± 5.1 mmHg (P < 0.01). The Miller index was 0.67 ± 0.11 and 0.37 ± 0.13 (P < 0.01), respectively, before and after PMT (P < 0.01). Eleven patients had no recurrence of PE on a mean follow-up of 28.3 months, whereas the other three patients were lost to follow-up. The preliminary experience in our series suggests that the Straub Rotarex thrombectomy device, which has been utilized in peripheral arteries, also is useful for the treatment of acute massive PE.

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Abbreviations

PE:

Pulmonary embolism

PMT:

Percutaneous mechanical thrombectomy

PaO2 :

Partial arterial oxygen pressure

Sat.O2 :

Oxygen saturation

PAP:

Pulmonary artery pressure

DVT:

Deep venous thrombosis

IVC:

Inferior vena cava

CT:

Computed tomography

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Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Affiliations

  1. Department of Interventional Radiology, First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210029, China

    Sheng Liu, Hai-Bin Shi, Zheng-Qiang Yang, Wei-Zhong Zhou, Chun-Gao Zhou, Lin-Bo Zhao, Jin-Guo Xia & Lin-Sun Li

  2. Department of Interventional Radiology, Nanjing First Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210006, China

    Jian-Ping Gu, Liang Chen, Wen-Sheng Lou & Xu He

Authors
  1. Sheng Liu
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  2. Hai-Bin Shi
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  3. Jian-Ping Gu
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  4. Zheng-Qiang Yang
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  5. Liang Chen
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  6. Wen-Sheng Lou
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  7. Xu He
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  8. Wei-Zhong Zhou
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  9. Chun-Gao Zhou
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  10. Lin-Bo Zhao
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  11. Jin-Guo Xia
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  12. Lin-Sun Li
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Hai-Bin Shi.

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Liu, S., Shi, HB., Gu, JP. et al. Massive Pulmonary Embolism: Treatment with the Rotarex Thrombectomy System. Cardiovasc Intervent Radiol 34, 106–113 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00270-010-9878-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00270-010-9878-y

Keywords

  • Pulmonary embolism
  • Interventional procedure
  • Percutaneous mechanical thrombectomy
  • Thrombolysis