Venous thromboembolic disease represents one of the most important causes of cardiovascular death in the world. Symptomatic pulmonary embolism (PE) occurs in about 500,000 patients annually, with an estimated mortality as high as 30% in high-risk patients .~High-risk pulmonary embolism clinically manifests with hemodynamic instability and systemic hypotension (systolic blood pressure < 90 mm Hg, pressure drop of more than 40 mm Hg or requiring administration of inotropic agents. In this form of PE (pulmonary embolism) imaging studies usually reveal a saddle embolus at the bifurcation of the pulmonary trunk, embolism of the main pulmonary artery, or embolic occlusion of at least two lobar arteries.~Mortality in high-risk pulmonary embolism is at the level of 60%, and in 66% of these patients fatal outcomes take place during the first hours from the onset of clinical symptoms. The remaining patients with severe pulmonary embolism , those with intermediate risk of mortality, do not reveal hypotension, but present with clinical symptoms comprising dyspnea and/or tachycardia. Estimated 30-day mortality in patients with intermediate risk PE (pulmonary embolism) is at the level of 15-20%, and these patients are at a risk of developing pulmonary hypertension and right ventricle heart failure. Given the fact that 40% of patients with class 4 or 5 of the Pulmonary Embolism Severity Index present with contraindications for systemic fibrinolytic therapy, Catheter-directed reperfusion therapy seems to be a promising alternative treatment modality.
Primary objective: to evaluate the success and mortality rates of catheter-directed reperfusion therapy in comparison to traditional use of systemic intravenous fibrinolytic therapy, will focus at safety of such management measured by in-hospital mortality and prevalence of severe adverse events.~Secondary objective: to assess the feasibility of catheter-directed reperfusion in management of intermediate and high risk pulmonary embolism in Assiut University hospital and its reflection on pulmonary artery pressure