The Central Role of the Interventional Radiologist in Advanced Therapies for Pulmonary Embolism: Results from An Online Member Survey by the Cardiovascular and Interventional Radiological Society of Europe.

Abstract

Purpose: To describe the outcomes of a survey on the provision of interventional radiology procedures for the treatment of acute pulmonary embolism (PE) in Europe and beyond.

Methods: An online survey with 14 structured items was designed by the authors and was sent to 7116 CIRSE members via email. The anonymous online survey collected data for eight weeks; only complete responses were statistically analysed.

Results: The survey was completed by 373 members (5.24%). Among these, 75.1% worked at centres offering catheter-directed thrombolysis or thrombectomy, in which 89.3% (250) personally perform endovascular treatment techniques for pulmonary embolism and the IR department is primarily responsible for the endovascular treatment techniques of PE in 83.2% of cases. The most frequently used endovascular techniques were (large bore) aspiration thrombectomy (85%) and catheter-directed thrombolysis (58.9%). The most common indications for intervention were sub-massive and massive PE (69.9%) and massive PE only (28%). In 70% of centres offering catheter-directed thrombolysis or thrombectomy, three or more Interventional Radiologists (IRs) are involved in PE treatment. Multidisciplinary rapid response teams for PE were available in 40.8% of centres, and included IRs in 91.4%.

Conclusion: IRs are heavily involved in the management of patients with massive and sub-massive pulmonary embolism; further research is mandated to address clinical questions including patient selection and the timing for transcatheter therapies of PE provided by IR.