Advances in Percutaneous Management of Pulmonary Embolism

Role of Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation in the Treatment of Massive Pulmonary Embolism

Massive/high-risk pulmonary embolism (PE) is associated with a 30-day mortality rate of approximately 65%. In searching for strategies that may make a dent on this dismal mortality rate, investigators have, over the last decade, shown renewed interest in the potential beneficial role of venoarterial (V-A) extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) in the treatment of patients with high-risk PE. There is a dearth of high-quality evidence regarding the value of ECMO in the treatment of massive PE. Studies examining this issue have generally been retrospective, often single center and frequently with small patient numbers. Moreover, these reported studies are not matched with appropriate controls, and, accordingly, it is difficult to regulate for inherent treatment bias. Not surprisingly, there are no randomized controlled trials examining the value of ECMO in the treatment of massive PE, as such trials would pose formidable feasibility challenges. Over the past several years, there has been increasing support for upfront use of V-A ECMO in the treatment of massive PE, when it is complicated by cardiac arrest. In those patients without cardiac arrest, but who have contraindications for thrombolysis, V-A ECMO combined with anticoagulation may be used to stabilize the patient. If after 3 to 5 days, such patients demonstrate persistent right ventricular dysfunction, embolectomy (either surgical or catheter based) should be performed. Well-designed, multicenter, prospective studies are urgently needed to better define the role of V-A ECMO in the treatment of patients with massive PE.

Comparison of In-Hospital Outcomes between Early and Late Catheter-Directed Thrombolysis in Acute Pulmonary Embolism: A Retrospective Observational Study

The purpose of this study is to evaluate whether early initiation of catheter-directed thrombolysis (CDT) in patients presenting with acute pulmonary embolism is associated with improved in-hospital outcomes. A retrospective cohort was extracted from the 2016-2019 National Inpatient Sample database, consisting of 21,730 weighted admissions undergoing CDT acute PE. From the time of admission, the sample was divided into early (<48 h) and late interventions (>48 h). Outcomes were measured using regression analysis and propensity score matching. No significant differences in mortality, cardiac arrest, cardiogenic shock, or intracranial hemorrhage (p > 0.05) were found between the early and late CDT groups. Late CDT patients had a higher likelihood of receiving systemic thrombolysis (3.21 [2.18-4.74], p < 0.01), blood transfusion (1.84 [1.41-2.40], p < 0.01), intubation (1.33 [1.05-1.70], p = 0.02), discharge disposition to care facilities (1.32 [1.14-1.53], p < 0.01). and having acute kidney injury (1.42 [1.25-1.61], p < 0.01). Predictors of late intervention were older age, female sex, non-white ethnicity, non-teaching hospital admission, hospitals with higher bed sizes, and weekend admission (p < 0.01). This study represents a comprehensive evaluation of outcomes associated with the time interval for initiating CDT, revealing reduced morbidity with early intervention. Additionally, it identifies predictors associated with delayed CDT initiation. The broader ramifications of these findings, particularly in relation to hospital resource utilization and health disparities, warrant further exploration.

Percutaneous mechanical aspiration in patients with right-sided infective endocarditis: An analysis of the national inpatient sample database-2016-2020

BACKGROUND

Given the challenges of conventional therapies in managing right-sided infective endocarditis (RSIE), percutaneous mechanical aspiration (PMA) of vegetations has emerged as a novel treatment option. Data on trends, characteristics, and outcomes of PMA, however, have largely been limited to case reports and case series.

AIMS

The aim of the current investigation was to provide a descriptive analysis of PMA in the United States and to profile the frequency of PMA with a temporal analysis and the patient cohort.

METHODS

The International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision codes were used to identify patients with RSIE in the national (nationwide) inpatient sample (NIS) database between 2016 and 2020. The clinical characteristics and temporal trends of RSIE hospitalizations in patients who underwent PMA was profiled.

RESULTS

An estimated 117,955 RSIE-related hospital admissions in the United States over the 5-year study period were estimated and 1675 of them included PMA. Remarkably, the rate of PMA for RSIE increased 4.7-fold from 2016 (0.56%) to 2020 (2.62%). Patients identified with RSIE who had undergone PMA were young (medial age 36.5 years) and had few comorbid conditions (median Charlson Comorbidity Index, 0.6). Of note, 36.1% of patients had a history of hepatitis C infection, while only 9.9% of patients had a cardiovascular implantable electronic device. Staphylococcus aureus was the predominant (61.8%) pathogen. Concomitant transvenous lead extraction and cardiac valve surgery during the PMA hospitalization were performed in 18.2% and 8.4% of admissions, respectively. The median hospital stay was 19.0 days, with 6.0% in-hospital mortality.

CONCLUSIONS

The marked increase in the number of PMA procedures in the United States suggests that this novel treatment option has been embraced as a useful tool in select cases of RSIE. More work is needed to better define indications for the procedure and its efficacy and safety.