Pulmonary embolism

Pulmonary embolism (PE) is the third leading cardiovascular cause of death after heart attacks and stroke. PE is caused by blood clots in the pulmonary arteries. These are often caused by clots from the venous system, including thrombus from trauma, surgery or deep vein thrombosis (DVT). Treatment has traditionally been systemic use of thrombolytic drugs to dissolve the clot. But in cases there is a massive, life-threatening PE, or chronic clot burden that have remained in a vessel for an extended period of time, mechanical thrombectomy and ultrasound-assisted catheter-directed thrombolysis (USCDT) is being used as more targeted and aggressive treatments.

Pulmonary embolism thrombectomy use increases by more than 700%
Medicare claims submitted between 2017 and 2022 showed a 712% increase in thrombectomy for pulmonary embolism (PE) and a 137% increase in thrombectomy for deep vein thrombosis (DVT).
Key takeaways for interventional cardiology from TCT 2025
B. Hadley Wilson, MD, talked to Cardiovascular Business about several standout late-breaking clinical trials presented at TCT 2025. Topics of those trials included drug-coated balloons, TAVR valve durability, pulmonary embolism treatments and much more.
FDA clears first large-bore, vacuum-assisted pulmonary embolism thrombectomy system
The Symphony Thrombectomy System eliminates tradeoffs between two priorities—leveraging large-bore power and ease of use vs. efficiently reducing clot burden and delivering improved speed.
FDA clears blood clot removal system for treating pulmonary embolism
The Aventus Thrombectomy System was already cleared to treat blood clots in the peripheral arteries. This latest approval comes after positive results from an IDE study were published in JSCAI.
Tiny clot-busting robots could transform care for stroke and heart attack patients
The robots are capable of swimming through a patient’s vascular system and removing blood clots. “It’s unbelievable," one Stanford researcher said. "This is a sea-change technology that will drastically improve our ability to help people.”

The Penumbra thrombectomy pulmonary embolism clots extraction catheter displayed at TCT 2025. Photo by Dave Fornell

Pulmonary embolism thrombectomy use increases by more than 700%

Medicare claims submitted between 2017 and 2022 showed a 712% increase in thrombectomy for pulmonary embolism (PE) and a 137% increase in thrombectomy for deep vein thrombosis (DVT).

Hadley Wilson, MD, MACC, executive vice chair of Atrium Health Sanger Heart and Vascular Institute, and a clinical professor of medicine at Wake Forest University School of Medicine, shares what he felt were the most important clinical trials presented at the TCT 2025.

Key takeaways for interventional cardiology from TCT 2025

B. Hadley Wilson, MD, talked to Cardiovascular Business about several standout late-breaking clinical trials presented at TCT 2025. Topics of those trials included drug-coated balloons, TAVR valve durability, pulmonary embolism treatments and much more.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted 510(k) clearance for the first large-bore continuous vacuum-assisted system to treat pulmonary embolism (PE). The Symphony Thrombectomy System from Imperative Care Inc. enables physicians to remove more clot from the lungs in less time.

FDA clears first large-bore, vacuum-assisted pulmonary embolism thrombectomy system

The Symphony Thrombectomy System eliminates tradeoffs between two priorities—leveraging large-bore power and ease of use vs. efficiently reducing clot burden and delivering improved speed.

Inquis Medical Aventus Thrombectomy System

FDA clears blood clot removal system for treating pulmonary embolism

The Aventus Thrombectomy System was already cleared to treat blood clots in the peripheral arteries. This latest approval comes after positive results from an IDE study were published in JSCAI.

milli-spinner thrombectomy designed to target blood clots by engineers with Stanford University

Tiny clot-busting robots could transform care for stroke and heart attack patients

The robots are capable of swimming through a patient’s vascular system and removing blood clots. “It’s unbelievable," one Stanford researcher said. "This is a sea-change technology that will drastically improve our ability to help people.”

AI is revolutionizing radiology workflow and patient care

Sponsored by Viz.ai

In the rapidly evolving healthcare landscape, artificial intelligence (AI) is making significant strides in improving radiology workflow and patient care coordination. Nicholas Galante, MD, medical director of informatics at Radiology Associates of North Texas, recently discussed how technology from Viz.ai is transforming his radiology practice, enhancing efficiency, and ultimately benefiting patient outcomes.

healthcare value value-based care money dollar

Medical device startup exits stealth mode to name CEO, announce $21M in funding

Jupiter Endovascular, a new subsidiary of Neptune Medical, aims to "bring the precision and control of direct surgical access to catheter-based interventions.”

Sahil Parikh, MD, FSCAI, Director of Endovascular Services at New York-Presbyterian Columbia University Irving Medical Center, and Associate Professor of Medicine at the Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, explains there is scant clinical data on what the standard of care should be for pulmonary embolism, so it is up to clinicians to decide what is best for patients based on whether patients have mild to severe PE.

Pulmonary embolism treatments continue to evolve

There is still a lack of lack of standardized treatment protocols for pulmonary embolism. This is mainly due to limited data and a lack of reliable risk assessments, one specialist explained.