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.

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FDA clears pulmonary embolism thrombectomy device

The FlowTriever System has become the first thrombectomy device designed to treat pulmonary embolism (PE) to be cleared by the FDA, Inari Medical announced in a May 21 press release.

Example of spectral, or dual-energy CT, confirming a pulmonary embolism (PE). Image courtesy of Philips Healthcare

MRA vs CTA for evaluating pulmonary embolism: Does the chosen modality impact downstream imaging utilization?

MR angiography (MRA) is a relatively new alternative to CT angiography (CTA) for the evaluation of suspected pulmonary embolism (PE) and it even has one major advantage over CTA: it does not expose patients to ionizing radiation.

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Novel device treats pulmonary embolism without clot-dissolving drugs

A new device allows clinicians to remove blood clots from the pulmonary arteries and improve right ventricular function without the use of thrombolytics, according to a late-breaking clinical study presented April 26 at SCAI 2018 in San Diego.

Example of pulmonary embolism (PE) detection on CT and confirmed using spectral CT. Image courtesy of Philips Healthcare

Researchers 'concerned' CT angiography topped MRA in follow-ups for pulmonary embolism

A recent study found whether a patient received MR angiography (MRA) instead of CT angiography (CTA) for a pulmonary embolism (PE) had little effect on the rate of follow-up chest CT or MRI one year later.

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American Airlines sued after passenger dies after in-flight pulmonary embolism

The family of a newlywed nurse is suing American Airlines after she fell ill on a flight and died. The cause of her death was determined to be an acute massive pulmonary embolism and cardiogenic shock.

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Teaming Up to Treat Pulmonary Emboli: Clotbusters Illustrates Potential of Coordinated Response Programs

At one hospital, an aggressive treatment PE treatment program has dramatically reduced mortality.

Additional MR Techniques Improve Detection of Pulmonary Embolism

According a study published in the March issue of the journal Radiology, radiologists now have a comparable, non-ionizing option to CT for the detection of pulmonary embolism.