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.”

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.

Pulmonary embolism

Pulmonary embolism thrombectomy use increases by more than 700%

Key takeaways for interventional cardiology from TCT 2025

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

FDA clears blood clot removal system for treating pulmonary embolism

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