Endovascular treatment of massive pulmonary embolism includes local thrombolysis and above all mechanical thrombectomy. Over the past 10-15 years, various mechanical thrombectomy devices were designed to clear a blood clot with use of combinations of mechanical dissolution, fragmentation, and aspiration. The aim of mechanical thrombectomy of a large central thrombus is rapid recanalization of central pulmonary arteries which allows haemodynamic normalization of the pulmonary circulation. Mechanical thrombectomy of acute massive pulmonary embolism markedly speeds up treatment and improves the prognosis of the disease.

        Key words: pulmonary embolism - mechanical fragmentation - thrombectomy - thrombolysis