Thrombolysis The use of medication to dissolve blot clots (often referred to as "clot busting" medication) in the pulmonary artery. These medications can be used alone or with other interventional procedures.
Inferior Vena Cava (IVC) Filter In order to prevent blood clots from traveling from legs to the heart or lungs, doctors will occasionally recommend that a filter be positioned in the vein returning blood to the heart from the lower body. This vein is the inferior vena cava (IVC). In the procedure, a small plastic tube (catheter) is positioned into the IVC from the blood vessels of the groin or neck. The filter is a metal basket that is positioned in the IVC and can remain in place permanently, or can be removed at a later date, if need be.
Thrombectomy In cases of a recent pulmonary embolism that is causing problems for the pumping of the heart, the blood clot in the pulmonary artery can be removed with special devices that break up the clot and extract it through the catheter. Occasionally heart surgery is needed to treat very large clots.
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