Mechanical Thrombectomy in Pulmonary Embolism Associated with COVID-19: A "Clotography" Gallery. (November 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Balanescu, Dinu V.; Kado, Herman S.; Mertens, Amy; Chand, Rajat; Savin, Michael; McNally, Vicki; Bowers, Terry R.
• Is Part Of: Vascular & endovascular surgery. Volume 55:Number 8(2021)
• Page Start: 903
• Page End: 906
• Publication Date: 2021-11
• Subjects: pulmonary embolectomy -- mechanical thrombectomy -- pulmonary embolism -- COVID-19 -- venous thromboembolism; Blood-vessels -- Surgery -- Periodicals; Blood-vessels -- Endoscopic surgery -- Periodicals; Vascular Surgical Procedures -- Periodicals; Angioplasty -- Periodicals; Surgical Procedures, Minimally Invasive -- Periodicals; Vascular Diseases -- surgery -- Periodicals; Vaisseaux sanguins -- Chirurgie -- Périodiques; Vaisseaux sanguins -- Chirurgie endoscopique -- Périodiques; 617.41
• DOI: 10.1177/15385744211037600
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1538-5744

Abstract

Venous thromboembolism from a "thrombotic storm"–like syndrome is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with active or "recovered" COVID-19. Patients should be risk-stratified, optimally by a pulmonary embolism (PE) response team (PERT), and considered for escalation of care if found with intermediate or high-risk PE. We present a series of patients with COVID-19-associated PE and thrombotic storm with D-dimer >10 000 ng/mL who underwent successful mechanical thrombectomy for intermediate to high-risk PE. All patients had immediate improvement in hemodynamics and large amounts of thrombi were retrieved.