Pulmonary Embolism (PE)

Dual-energy computed tomography (CT) pulmonary angiography is used to identify pulmonary emboli and determine the amount of lung tissue in jeopardy.

Transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) uses ultrasound to create images of the heart, and will show evidence of heart failure due to blood clots obstructing blood flow in the lungs.

Electrocardiography (ECG) is used to test measure the electrical activity of the heart.

Ventilation-perfusion scanning measures airflow (ventilation) and blood flow (perfusion) in the lungs, and does not require intravenous contrast.

Almost all patients will need anticoagulants, or blood thinners, to prevent future blood clots from forming. Combining medication with lifestyle changes (such as wearing compression socks, eating healthier, quitting smoking and exercising) can lower your risk of further PEs.

Known as clot busters, thrombolytic medications work to dissolve a blood clot. Unlike anticoagulants, fibrinolytic therapy is not a pill, but instead is delivered via an IV or through catheterization to deliver the medication directly into the vessel.

As the largest vein in the body, the inferior vena cava (IVC) is critical for maintaining blood flow to the heart and lungs. If clot-busting medication or anticoagulants are not enough to dissolve or decrease the blood clot, or if you cannot take these medications, IVC filters can be implanted to trap and prevent additional blood clots from traveling to the lungs.

For severe, life-threatening PE, the clot may need to be totally removed through pulmonary embolectomy. This procedure can be performed using minimally-invasive catheterization techniques or open surgery, depending on the location and size of the clot.

For patients with cardiovascular collapse due to PE, our cardiologists and surgeons routinely use ECMO to provide full cardiopulmonary support. ECMO uses large cannulae (tubes) to drain blood from the body, provide oxygen to the blood, and pump the blood back into the body. ECMO is available 24 hours a day.

If you have a pulmonary embolism, we recommend you reach out to our our multidisciplinary post-PE clinic. Our unique care team, comprised of cardiologists, pulmonary/critical care experts, and hematologists, will determine the appropriate duration of anticoagulation therapy, screen for genetic causes of blood clots, arrange for removal of IVC filters if no longer needed and screen for chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH).