Catheter based interventions for pulmonary embolism is on the rise. The rise in mainly in patients who present with submassive PE. The intent of intervention is to reduce clot burden. This is done to improve acute symptoms and to reduce long-term complications. A common intervention for pulmonary embolism is infusion of thrombolytics. This can be done with any type of infusion catheter. The question is: Is there a difference between catheter types? Recently, three publications compared pigtail infusion catheters to the Ekosonic (TM) ultrasound assisted thrombolysis. All studies were retrospective. The first study was published by Dr. Mitchell D. Weinberg in Vascular Medicine Journal. The second study was also published in Vascular Medicine Journal. A third study was published in the Journal of Vascular and Interventional Radiology.

Read More