A comparison of the efficacy and safety between anticoagulation alone and combined with catheter-directed thrombolysis for treatment of pulmonary embolism on outcome: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract

Background

Catheter-directed thrombolysis (CDT) is one of the newest treatment options for submassive pulmonary embolism (sPE). This study will compare the efficacy and safety of catheter-directed thrombolysis (CDT) combine with anticoagulation versus anticoagulation alone (AC) in patients with PE.

Methods

A database search was conducted using PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, and Clinicaltrials.gov for trials that compared CDT with AC in patients with pulmonary embolism. The primary outcomes was1-year mortality. The secondary outcomes were in-hospital, 30 days, 90 days mortality, in-hospital major and minor bleeding (Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction (TIMI) classification), length of hospital stay (LOS), reduction of pulmonary arterial systolic pressure (PASP) and RV/LV diameter ratio.

Results

A total of 16 articles (3 RCTs and 13 non-RCTs) and 10595 patients were included in this study. 2237 patients were in the CDT group and 8358 patients were in the AC group. CDT group was associated with significantly lower in-hospital mortality (2.1% vs 6.2%,OR:0.36, 95%CI:0.26-0.51, p < .00001,I² = 0%), 30 days mortality (3.1% vs 8.6%,OR:0.39,95%CI:0.23-0.66, p = .0005, I² = 0%), 90 days mortality (3.8% vs 7.7%,OR:0.49,95%CI:0.29-0.80,p = .005,I² = 7%), 1-year mortality (6.1% vs 11%, OR:0.51, 95%CI:0.35-0.76, p = .0008,I² = 36%) compared to AC group, especially in ultrasound-assisted thrombolysis (USAT) subgroup. There were no differences on major bleeding between two groups (1.8% vs 2.2%, OR:1.10, 95%CI:0.61-1.98, p = .75, I² = 0%). Minor bleeding was significantly higher in CDT group than AC group (6.2% vs 3.8%, OR:1.93,95%CI:1.27-2.94.66, p = .002, I² = 1%). CDT group significantly reduced PASP (WMD:11.90,95%CI:6.45-17.35, p < .0001, I² = 72%) and RV/LV (WMD:0.17,95%CI:0.04-0.30, p = .009, I² = 69%) rapidly than AC group after treatment. LOS was similar between two groups (WMD:0.02,95%CI: -0.68-0.73, p = .95, I² = 51%).

Conclusion

Results thus confirmed that CDT reduced in-hospital, 30 days, 90 days and 1-year all-cause mortality in patients with sPE compared to AC, particularly in USAT subgroup. Nonetheless, CDT group was associated with a higher risk of minor bleeding.