Necessity of thrombolysis for the patients with acute moderate risk pulmonary embolism

The necessity of thrombolysis for the patients with acute moderate risk pulmonary embolism has been debated for many years. The patients with moderate risk pulmonary embolism have a higher mortality risk for death. It has been suggested that thrombolytic treatment,which dissolves blood clots more rapidly,may reduce the mortality in those patients. But some studies show that thrombolysis cannot reduce the mortality or recurrence of acute moderate risk pulmonary embolism compared with anticoagulation. Furthermore,thrombolysis increases the risk of bleeding. This article reviews the efficacy and safety of thrombolysis for the patients with acute moderate risk pulmonary embolism.