BACKGROUND:Ultrasound-assisted catheter-directed thrombolysis (USAT) may reverse right ventricular dysfunction due to acute pulmonary embolism (PE) with a favorable safety profile. METHODS:We studied intermediate-high- and high-risk acute PE patients who underwent USAT at the University Hospital Zurich, 2018-2022. The USAT regimen included alteplase 10 mg per catheter over 15 h, therapeutic-dosed heparin, and dosage adaptations based on routinely monitored coagulation parameters, notably anti-factor Xa activity and fibrinogen. We focused on the mean pulmonary arterial pressure (mPAP) and the National Early Warning Score (NEWS) before and after USAT, and reported the incidence of hemodynamic decompensation, PE recurrence, major bleeding, and death over 30 days. RESULTS:We included 161 patients: 96 (59.6 %) were men and the mean age was 67.8 (SD 14.6) years. Mean PAP decreased from a mean of 35.6 (SD 9.8) to 25.6 (SD 8.2) mmHg, whereas the NEWS decreased from a median of 5 (Q1-Q3 4-6) to 3 (Q1-Q3 2-4) points. No cases of hemodynamic decompensation occurred. One (0.6 %) patient had an episode of recurrent PE. Two (1.2 %) major bleeding events occurred, including one (0.6 %) intracranial, fatal hemorrhage in a patient with high-risk PE, severe heparin overdosing, and a recent head trauma (with negative CT scan of the brain performed at baseline). No other deaths occurred. CONCLUSIONS:USAT resulted in a rapid improvement of hemodynamic parameters among patients with intermediate-high risk acute PE and selected ones with high-risk acute PE, without any recorded deaths related to PE itself. A strategy including USAT, therapeutic-dosed heparin, and routinely monitored coagulation parameters may partly explain the overall very low rate of major bleeding.

Background: Upper-extremity peripheral arterial disease (PAD) may present with a broad spectrum of signs and symptoms. If an endovascular treatment is planned, percutaneous angioplasty and stent placement may lead to a better patency compared to percutaneous angioplasty alone. We assessed the characteristics and clinical course of patients with upper-extremity PAD who received angioplasty and a balloon-expandable stent. Patients and methods: We analyzed data from consecutive patients treated with angioplasty and placement of a balloon-expandable BeSmooth Peripheral Stent System® (Bentley, Germany) at the Angiology Department (University Hospital Zurich) between 2018 and 2022. The primary outcome was re-intervention at the target lesion within 6 months from index angioplasty and during available follow-up. The study was approved by the local ethical commission. Results: A total of 27 patients were treated. The median age was 70 (Q1-Q3: 60-74) years and 59% were men. The subclavian artery (74%) represented the most frequently treated target lesion, followed by the innominate artery (26%). The mean improvement in blood pressure in the treated arm was 21 (95%CI 7 to 35) mmHg at 24 hours and 29 (95%CI 15 to 43) mmHg at 6 months. At 6 months, 2 (8%) patients required a target lesion re-intervention. During the remaining follow-up period up to 24 months, one of these two patients required additional intervention and a total of 3 (11%) patients died due to sepsis, cancer, and unknown causes, respectively. Conclusions: Percutaneous catheter-based treatment with a balloon-expandable stent for symptomatic upper extremity PAD appeared to be effective and safe.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS Large-bore catheter aspiration embolectomy reduces thrombus burden and right ventricle strain, and improves hemodynamics after pulmonary embolism (PE). Sparse data is available for patients with high-risk PE and contraindications to thrombolysis or thrombolysis failure, particulary if veno-arterial extracorporal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) is required. METHODS All patients with acute high-risk PE and contraindications to thrombolysis undergoing FlowTriever® percutaneuous embolectomy and VA-ECMO circulatory support (or standby) at the University Hospital Zurich between April 2021 and August 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. The primary outcome was the combination of recurrent PE, heart failure hospitalization, and all-cause death at 30 days. RESULTS The analysis included 15 patients: mean age was 63.1 years and 14 (93%) were men. Overall, 4 (27%) patients presented with cardiac arrest, 8 (53%) with ongoing obstructive shock, and 3 (20%) with persistent arterial hypotension. VA-ECMO was implanted prior to aspiration embolectomy in 8 (53%) patients. Three of 7 patients without initial VA-ECMO support experienced periprocedural cardiac arrest, of whom 2 received ECMO support before completion of embolectomy. VA-ECMO weaning was successful in all patients after a mean of 5.4 days. There was one periprocedural death in a patient who did not receive VA-ECMO support following a periprocedural cardiac arrest. The primary outcome at 30 days occurred in 5 (33.3%; 95%CI 13.0-61.3%) patients. CONCLUSIONS This study provides preliminary evidence for the feasibility of percutaneous large-bore aspiration embolectomy in combination with VA-ECMO support (or standby) in patients with high-risk PE and contraindications to thrombolysis.

Background  Lemierre syndrome is a potentially life-threatening disease, which affects otherwise healthy young adults and adolescents. It is characterized by acute neck vein thrombosis and septic embolism, usually complicating a bacterial infection. Data on the syndrome are sparse, particularly concerning arterial complications. Methods  We evaluated the frequency and patterns of cerebral arterial and cardiac involvement (“arterial complications”) in an individual patient level cohort of 712 patients, representing all cases described over the past 20 years in the medical literature who fulfilled the criteria: (1) bacterial infection in the neck/head site and (2) objectively confirmed thrombotic complication or septic embolism. The study outcomes were defined as all-cause in-hospital deaths and the occurrence of clinical sequelae at discharge or in the postdischarge period. Results  A total of 55 (7.7%) patients had an arterial complication. The most frequent arterial complications were carotid involvement (52.7%), stroke (38.2%), and pericardial complications (20%). Patients with an arterial involvement were more likely to be treated with a greater number of antibiotics (23 vs. 10%) and to receive anticoagulation. In addition, patients with arterial complications had a greater risk of all-cause death ( n  = 20/600, 3.3% vs. n  = 6/52, 12%; odds ratio [OR]: 3.8; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.5–9.9) and late clinical sequelae ( n  = 49/580, 9.0% vs. n  = 15/46, 35%; OR: 5.2; 95% CI: 2.65–10.37). Conclusions  While Lemierre syndrome is known to be primarily characterized by venous thromboembolic events, our results suggest that local or distant arterial complications may occur in approximately one-tenth of patients and may be associated with a greater risk of long-term sequelae and death.

Lemierre Syndrome is a rare form of septic thrombophlebitis of the head and neck veins, most typically of the internal jugular vein, which affects otherwise healthy adolescents and young adults after an oropharyngitis or other local infection. It is characterized by multiple septic embolization. Despite treatment, Lemierre Syndrome displays a high rate of in-hospital complications that include thrombus progression and a new peripheral septic embolization; moreover, it can be fatal or cause disabling sequelae. The mainstay of the treatment is antibiotic therapy; anticoagulation is often used, but its role is controversial. Surgical treatment is often necessary in case of peripheral septic lesions. In the absence of prospective studies, what little guidance exists on its management is based on case series or on analogy with similar conditions, such as other forms of septic thrombophlebitis or non-septic venous thrombosis. Over the last few years, new observational evidence has improved our knowledge of the clinical epidemiology of this condition and highlighted a number of promising management strategies. We provide an overview of the treatment patterns adopted in the contemporary era, and summarize the arguments proposed so far against or in favor of alternative treatments as well as possible decision rules on the use of anticoagulation. Moreover, we outline the priorities of ongoing and future observational and interventional research.