Pulmonary Embolism - Thrombus Removal With Catheter-Directed Therapy

Open to people ages 18 years and up

1. Symptomatic PE diagnosed by contrast-enhanced CT angiography with involvement of a main or lobar pulmonary artery branch; and
2. Right ventricular (RV) dilation as defined by the presence of an RV/Left ventricular ratio > 1 on CT angiography

1. Age < 18 years
2. Systolic blood pressure < 90 mmHg for >15 consecutive minutes or > 40 mmHg drop from baseline, or vasopressor requirement for blood pressure support (i.e., massive PE), occurring within 1 hour prior to eligibility assessment.
3. Symptom duration > 14 days for the current PE episode
4. Irreversible INR > 3
5. Irreversible Thrombocytopenia (Platelets < 50,000/microliter)
6. Creatinine > 2.0 mg/dl
7. Hemoglobin < 7.0 g/dl
8. Pregnancy (positive urine or blood pregnancy test (a pregnancy test must be obtained within 7 days prior to randomization in people of childbearing potential))
9. Allergy or hypersensitivity to Recombinant Tissue Plasminogen Activator (rt-PA), or iodinated contrast, except for mild-moderate contrast allergies for which steroid pre-medication can be used
10. Life expectancy < 1 year
11. Chronic inability to independently walk prior to the current PE episode (e.g. wheelchair dependent, walker or cane dependent, paraplegic, and/or bed-bound)
12. Allergy to heparin or history of Heparin-Induced Thrombocytopenia (HIT)
13. Unable or unwilling to provide informed consent
14. Major contraindication or unsuitability for all CDT methods available at the Clinical Center