Case report shows successful aspiration thrombectomy in high-risk pulmonary embolism complicated by severe hemorrhage, highlighting a mechanical rescue strategy when thrombolysis is contraindicated.
High-risk pulmonary embolism with severe anaemia and active uterine bleeding from adenomyosis Symptoms: Transient loss of consciousness • haemodynamic instability (hypotension) • dyspnoea • heavy vaginal bleeding • lower-limb swelling Clinical Procedure: -Specialty: Cardiology • Critical Care Medicine • Pulmonology Objective: Rare coexistence of disease or pathology Background:High-risk pulmonary embolism (PE) carries significant mortality, and management becomes complex when it coexists with severe anemia and active bleeding, as thrombolysis is then contraindicated.We report the case of a patient with high-risk PE complicated by severe anemia (hemoglobin 41 g/L) and active uterine bleeding from adenomyosis. Case Report:A 48-year-old woman presented with haemodynamic instability (blood pressure 74/47 mm Hg), critical anemia (hemoglobin 41 g/L), and a 3-year history of irregular vaginal bleeding from adenomyosis.Computed tomography (CT) pulmonary angiography confirmed bilateral PE with right pulmonary artery main-trunk occlusion; echocardiography showed severe pulmonary hypertension, and duplex ultrasound showed extensive left lower-limb deep vein thrombosis.Thrombolysis was contraindicated.Emergency percutaneous aspiration thrombectomy was performed using large-bore catheters (22F, 20F, 16F) with concurrent inferior vena cava filter placement, reducing pulmonary artery pressure from 51/23 to 34/12 mm Hg; the estimated blood loss, quantified from filtered aspirate, was approximately 100 mL.Adjuncts included transfusion of 13 units of packed red cells, dilatation and curettage, gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist therapy, and titrated anticoagulation.At discharge after a 24-day hospitalization she was hemodynamically stable, and free of dyspnea, with resolved edema and hemoglobin 72 g/L, on oral rivaroxaban. Conclusions:In this thrombolysis-contraindicated patient, aspiration thrombectomy with inferior vena cava filter placement was a feasible rescue strategy that achieved rapid hemodynamic and angiographic improvement without thrombolysis, with palliative rather than curative intent.As a single case, it cannot establish comparative safety or efficacy, and broader conclusions regarding efficacy cannot be drawn.It illustrates a potentially useful approach in similarly complex scenarios where coordinated multidisciplinary care is essential.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Saoudi et al. (2026) studied this question.
Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: