[Hemodynamic course during fibrinolysis in severe pulmonary embolism].

Seventy seven cases of severe pulmonary embolism (Miller index greater than 13 points) including 61 acute (under 5 days) and 16 subacute episodes, underwent continuous haemodynamic monitoring during treatment with either urokinase 2 000 U/kg/h for 24 hours with heparin (Group I: 18 patients), or urokinase 4 500 U/kg/h for 12 hours without heparin (Group II: 47 patients), or with streptokinase 2 00 000 U over 10 hours (Group III: 12 patients). Efficacy was defined as greater than 20% improvement of Miller index at control angiography after 48 hours (Group I: 10 patients, Group II: 31 patients, Group III: 8 patients). In the 49 patients (63%) with good results, the Miller index fell by about 50% with a significant increase in cardiac index (20%) from the 12th hour. There was a concomitant fall in pulmonary systolic arterial pressure (35%). In the 28 patients (37%) with partial improvement a 20% increase in cardiac index and an 18% fall in pulmonary systolic arterial pressure were observed only in the high dose urokinase group, despite incomplete pulmonary revascularisation demonstrating the vasodilator effect of this protocol. Fibrinolysis was repeated in the patients with incomplete results or a Miller index of over 13 points, leading to improvement in 78% of patients. Accelerated lysis of pulmonary embolism leads to rapid normalisation of haemodynamic parameters and improves the prognosis of massive pulmonary embolism by reducing the number of recurrences and the mortality rate (4%).