Pulmonary Embolism Interventions

When would I need pulmonary embolism interventions?

A pulmonary embolism is a blood clot in a lung artery. However, pulmonary embolisms begin as a clot in one of the deep veins in your body (deep vein thrombosis), most often in your legs. If the deep vein clot breaks off, it can travel to your lungs, get stuck in an artery, and block the blood flow. That’s when it becomes a pulmonary embolism. Pulmonary embolisms can turn into a life-threatening emergency if they stop circulation between your lungs and heart. They can also cause chronic conditions like pulmonary hypertension (high pressure in your lungs).

What signs alert me to needing pulmonary embolism interventions?

As the clot increasingly blocks blood flow in your lungs, you experience symptoms such as:

• Shortness of breath (sudden difficulty breathing signals an emergency)
• Chest pain (typically worse when breathing)
• Dizziness or fainting
• Heart palpitations (racing, pounding, or fluttering heart)
• Coughing, often bringing up blood
• Sweating

You may also have leg swelling and pain caused by deep vein thrombosis.

What type of pulmonary embolism intervention will I receive?

The Florida Heart, Vein and Vascular Institute team specializes in several treatments for a pulmonary embolism. Your treatment may include:

Medications

Your provider may prescribe anticoagulants to thin your blood and prevent future clots and/or thrombolytics that dissolve the clot. You may take a pill at home or get an intravenous infusion. In some cases, your provider performs a catheter-directed thrombolysis. They thread a catheter (long, thin tube) through your blood vessels to the clot and then release a thrombolytic medicine inside the artery.

Clot removal

To remove the pulmonary embolism, your provider makes a pinhole opening, inserts a catheter, and threads it through your blood vessels to the clot in your lung. They use the catheter to guide a specialized tool to the site and remove the clot.

Inferior vena cava (IVC) filter

The IVC, your body’s largest vein, carries oxygen-depleted blood from your lower body back to your heart. Since all the blood from your legs goes through the IVC, a filter placed in the vein catches pieces of a clot, preventing it from reaching your lungs and causing a pulmonary embolism. Call 911 immediately if you have sudden shortness of breath, chest pain, or other pulmonary symptoms. Call the nearest Florida Heart, Vein and Vascular Institute office or book an appointment online today.