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

PurposeTo 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.MethodsAn 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.ResultsThe 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%.ConclusionIRs 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.