Treatment of a case of massive pulmonary embolism through trombectomy with angiojet device

Pulmonary embolism is a common disease process associated with a high mortality rate. In patients with massive pulmonary embolism, systemic thrombolysis is considered to be the treatment of choice, but surgical or catheter thrombectomy may be alternative emergency treatments. A 36-year-old woman with massive pulmonary embolism and contraindications to thrombolytic therapy was treated with catheter thrombectomy using the Angiojet thrombectomy system. The procedure was successfully performed with an excellent immediate angiographic result at the site of the rheolytic thrombectomy. The clinical improvement was maintained while in-hospital and during a 4-month follow-up period, with a decrease to a normal level of the peak systolic pulmonary pressure. Our case report indicates that in patients with contraindications to systemic thrombolysis, catheter thrombectomy for massive pulmonary embolism may constitute a life-saving intervention.