[The role of thrombolysis in the treatment of pulmonary embolism: indications and results].

The indications, contraindications, results and complications of thrombolytic treatment in pulmonary embolism are reviewed. The natural history of this condition and recent developments in the field of thrombolysis are particularly emphasized. If hemodynamic breakdown is present, thrombolysis is clearly indicated. On the other hand, the place of thrombolytic treatment in the presence of non-massive pulmonary embolism remains to be established. In practice the authors' policy includes intravenous administration of a rather high dose of rt-PA (alteplase) (50 mg) over a short period of time (2 hours), possibly followed by a second 5-hours infusion of 10 mg/h. However, other treatment schemes are also well established.