ABSTRACT
Diagnosis • Systemic thrombolysis • Catheter-directed thrombolyis • Percutaneous mechanical thrombectomy • Technique • Inferior vena cava filters • Conclusion
Deep venous thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE) continue to be a significant cause of morbidity and mortality despite improvements in diagnostic imaging and anticoagulation regimens. Pulmonary embolism is the most severe complication from DVT, and is diagnosed in over 600 000 patients a year with as many as 150 000 deaths per year.1 This makes pulmonary embolism the third leading cause of death behind heart disease and cancer. Pulmonary embolism has a high mortality rate with an approximately 10% immediate mortality, and a 30% mortality rate for those who survive the initial event. Patients’ symptoms range from completely asymptomatic to cardiogenic shock and sudden death.2 Seventy-five percent (75%) of the patients who die from this disease do so during their initial admission.3
