Abstract: |
There is little data comparing safety and efficacy outcomes in patients with pulmonary embolism (PE) receiving catheter directed therapies (CDT) compared to a similar-risk cohort of PE patients receiving anticoagulation alone. 1094 patients with acute PE were studied. CDT and conservatively-managed patients were compared using propensity score matching to assess safety outcomes, which included bleeding and acute kidney injury at 2 and 7 days after PE diagnosis. Efficacy outcomes included change in vital signs over 72 h and in-hospital mortality. PE patients with RV strain who underwent CDT (n?=?76) had more bleeding at 2 days (additional 1.04 g/dL loss, 95% CI - 1.48 to - 0.60, p?0.001) and 7 days (additional 1.36 g/dL loss, 95% CI - 1.88 to - 0.84, p?0.001) compared to those receiving anticoagulation alone (n?=?303). There was a significant increase in creatinine at 2 days (additional 0.22 mg/dL elevation, 95% CI 0.02 to 0.42, p?=?0.03), but not at 7 days (additional 0.12 mg/dL elevation, 95% CI - 0.11 to 0.35, p?=?0.30). In-hospital mortality for patients receiving CDT versus anticoagulation alone was similar (OR 1.21, 95% CI 0.53 to 2.77; p?=?0.65). In patients with baseline abnormal vital signs who received CDT versus anticoagulation alone, heart rate, respiratory rate and oxygen requirement improved significantly faster and to levels closer to normal (p = 0.001). CDT was associated with a small but increased risk of bleeding, but no significant worsening of renal function. CDT may be associated with more rapid improvements in heart rate, respiratory rate, and oxygen requirement. |