BACKGROUND: Pulmonary embolism is the third most common cardiovascular disease. Interventional treatment options as an alternative to systemic lysis therapy of hemodynamically stable, submassive pulmonary embolisms have received an unprecedented boost in innovation in recent years. The treatment options are heterogeneous and can be roughly divided into local thrombolysis and local thrombectomy. For years in our center we have been carrying out catheter-assisted, locoregional lysis therapy with side-hole lysis catheters and a cumulative dose per pulmonary branch of 10 mg alteplase over 15 h for hemodynamically stable, submassive pulmonary emboli.

AIM: The aim of this retrospective study was to review this therapeutic concept and to collect data on clinical endpoints and possible complications.

METHODS: The study included data from 01/2018-03/2023. For this purpose, the patients were selected based on the OPS codes (8.838.60 and 1‑276.0), and the data was collected using the medical records. Biometric data, data on previous illnesses and vital parameters, laboratory chemistry data, CT diagnostic data, echocardiographic data, data on drug treatment and data on complications were collected anonymously.

RESULTS: There was a significant reduction in the strain on the right heart. Peripheral oxygen saturation also improved significantly and heart rate decreased significantly. The complication rate remained low and was almost exclusively limited to access-related problems.

CONCLUSION: Catheter-assisted, locoregional lysis therapy is a safe and effective treatment method for submassive pulmonary embolism.