Absolute contraindications to thrombolytics include Prior hemorrhagic stroke Ischemic stroke within 1 year Active external or internal bleeding from any source Intracranial injury or surgery within 2 months Intracranial tumor Certain surgeries within the previous few days Relative contraindications include Recent surgery (≤ 10 days) Hemorrhagic diathesis (as in hepatic insufficiency) Pregnancy Recent punctures of large noncompressible veins (eg, subclavian or internal jugular veins) Recent femoral artery catheterization (eg, ≤ 10 days) Peptic ulcer disease or other conditions that increase the risk of bleeding Severe hypertension (systolic blood pressure > 180 mm Hg or diastolic blood pressure > 110 mm Hg) Head trauma from PE-induced syncope, even if brain CT is normal Except for concurrent intracerebral hemorrhage, thrombolytic therapy is sometimes given to patients with massive PE who have "absolute contraindications" to such therapy if death is otherwise expected.