Table 1.
Baseline patients’ demographics and clinical characteristics
| Variables | Baseline |
|---|---|
| Demographics | |
| Age, years | 57.3 ± 13.5 |
| Female/male sex | 42 (38.2)/68 (61.8) |
| BMI, kg/m2 | 29.0 ± 5.0 |
| Co-morbidities | |
| Arterial hypertension | 40 (36.4) |
| Congestive heart failure | 3 (2.7) |
| Diabetes mellitus | 11 (10.0) |
| Concomitant deep vein thrombosis | 67 (60.9) |
| Coronary artery disease | 4 (3.6) |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease | 10 (9.1) |
| COVID-19 | 1 (0.9) |
| Chronic kidney disease | 10 (9.1) |
| Risk factors for PE | |
| Obesity, BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2 | 35 (31.8) |
| Malignancy | 19 (17.3) |
| Surgery within last 2 weeks | 16 (14.5) |
| Polytrauma | 3 (2.7) |
| Immobilization | 14 (12.7) |
| Thrombophilia | 20 (18.2) |
| History of PE | 25 (22.7) |
| Oral contraceptive | 7 (6.4) |
| PE clinical presentation | |
| Syncope | 13 (11.8) |
| Dyspnea at rest | 100 (90.9) |
| Chest pain | 5 (4.5) |
| Symptoms duration, days | 3 ± 2.5 |
| PE severity | |
| Intermediate-high risk | 79 (71.8) |
| High risk | 31 (28.2) |
| PESI score | 120.3 ± 32.4 |
| PESI class | |
| PESI class | |
| I-II | 3 (2.7) |
| III | 6 (5.5) |
| IV | 41 (37.3) |
| V | 29 (26.4) |
| Heart rate, bpm | 110.7 ± 16.8 |
| Systolic blood pressure, mmHg | 115 ± 22.2 |
| Diastolic blood pressure, mmHg | 74.9 ± 15.4 |
| Respiratory rate, pm | 29.5 ± 5.4 |
| Oxygen supplementation (to keep SaO2 > 90%) | 80 (72.7) |
| Arterial oxyhaemoglobin saturation, % | 90.2 ± 6.0 |
| Arterial pO2, mmHg | 66.9 ± 21.2 |
| FiO2, | 0.6 ± 0.3 |
| Oxygenation index (pO2/FiO2) | 122.5 ± 113.5 |
| Biomarkers | |
| hs Troponin I level, ng/mL (normal value <0.05 ng/mL) | 2.4 ± 7.3 |
| NT-proBNP level, pg/mL (normal value < 125 pg/mL) | 5609.7 ± 5805.3 |
| Lactate level, mmol/L (normal value <2.2 mmo/L) | 2.8 ± 2.0 |
| RV dysfunction | |
| RV/LV ratio, mm/mm (CTPA) | 1.4 ± 0.3 |
| RV/LV ratio, mm/mm (echo) | 1.3 ± 0.3 |
| Composite RV/LV ratio, mm/mm (CTPA/echo)a | 1.4 ± 0.3 |
| TAPSE, mm | 15 ± 4.1 |
| S’ wave, cm/s | 11.5 ± 3.3 |
| RVSP, mmHg | 51.1 ± 12.6 |
| Failed therapy prior CDMT | |
| ST | 13 (11.8) |
| Anticoagulation (clinical deterioration during therapy) | 5 (4.5) |
| Absolute contraindication to thrombolysis | 38 (34.5) |
Composite RV/LV ratios using either CTPA or TTE measurements, with CTPA prioritized if both were available.
Abbreviations: BMI, Body mass index; CDMT, catheter-directed mechanical thrombectomy; FiO2, oxygen demand; hs, high sensitive; NT-proBNP, N-terminal-pro-B-type natriuretic peptide; pO2, oxygen partial pressure; PE, pulmonary embolism; PESI, pulmonary embolism severity index; RV/LV ratio, right ventricular-to-left ventricular ratio; RVSP, right ventricular systolic pressure; ST, systemic thrombolysis; TAPSE, tricuspid annular systolic excursion.