Pulmonary embolism (PE) is a life-threatening condition and a leading cause of cardiovascular mortality. While systemic thrombolysis is the standard treatment for high-risk PE, its bleeding risk limits use in some patients, highlighting the need for alternative reperfusion strategies such as catheter-directed thrombolysis (CDT). This prospective study will evaluate the safety and efficacy of CDT using the EkoSonic Endovascular System (EKOS; Boston Scientific) in patients with intermediate-high and high-risk PE. The primary outcome is all-cause mortality through 360 days of follow-up, with secondary outcomes including changes in echocardiographic parameters such as the RV/LV diameter ratio.
Adults aged ≥ 18 years at time of enrollment;
Ability to provide written informed consent (or legally authorized representative consent where applicable);
Objectively confirmed acute pulmonary embolism (PE) by contrast-enhanced computed tomography pulmonary angiography (CTPA) demonstrating intraluminal filling defects in at least one segmental, lobar, or more proximal pulmonary artery;
Hemodynamically stable at presentation (i.e., not meeting high-risk PE criteria of sustained hypotension, shock, or need for vasopressor support per ESC 2019 and AHA/ACC risk stratification);
Systolic blood pressure (SBP) < 90 mmHg or a drop ≥ 40 mmHg from baseline for > 15 minutes not attributable to arrhythmia, hypovolemia, or sepsis,
Requirement for vasopressors to maintain SBP ≥ 90 mmHg,
Cardiogenic shock, defined by clinical signs of end-organ hypoperfusion (e.g., altered mental status, oliguria, lactate elevation),
Need for ECMO or other mechanical circulatory support initiated prior to assessment,
National Medical Research Center for Cardiology, Ministry of Health of Russian Federation
Lead sponsor