FlowTriever Retrieval System for the treatment of pulmonary embolism: overview of its safety and efficacy

Abstract

Introduction: Pulmonary embolism (PE) is the third leading cause of cardiovascular mortality. There has been little change in PE mortality rates over the past two decades making this an appealing area for innovation and development.

Areas covered: While anticoagulation (AC) and systemic thrombolysis (ST) are the mainstay treatments for high-risk PE and intermediate-high-risk PE with decompensation, advancements in catheter- based therapies offer potential alternatives. Areas covered here will include present guidelines for PE treatment and the landscape of catheter-directed therapies with a focus on the FlowTriever (FT) Retrieval System. Available safety and efficacy data will be reviewed. An online search via Google Scholar and PubMed with the keywords INARI Flowtriever, venous thromboembolism, and pulmonary embolism, alongside bibliographies of published articles, was undertaken as a review of the literature on the FlowTriever system for this device overview.

Expert opinion: The five-year outlook on the role of catheter-directed therapies in the management of PE includes continued innovation in catheter-directed therapies and a number of high-quality trials on the horizon.

Keywords: Large bore embolectomy; catheter-directed therapy; high-risk pulmonary embolism; intermediate-high-risk pulmonary embolism; massive pulmonary embolism; mechanical thrombectomy; non-lytic pulmonary embolism therapy; submassive pulmonary embolism.