Acute Pulmonary Embolism

At the University of Maryland Medical Center, we have a variety of ways to treat acute pulmonary embolisms depending on the severity of the case:

Anticoagulants

The mainstay of all treatment would include a blood thinner, referred to as an anticoagulants. This can be either an inpatient or outpatient therapy.

ECMO

In a scenario where you are too sick to undergo more advanced therapies, we might put you on an ECMO machine, which can support your body in preparation for an advanced procedure. The University of Maryland Medical Center is a national leader in ECMO procedures.

Thrombolytic Therapy

In some cases, we can perform a catheter-based procedure called a thrombolysis. This minimally-invasive procedure allows us to deliver a thrombolytic, or a clot-dissolving medicine, through the pulmonary artery.

This can help the clot to dissolve over time and can be administered through an IV. Depending on the case, this procedure can last anywhere from a few hours to a full day.

Acute Pulmonary Embolism Surgery

Surgery may be required. Our surgical team will fully remove all clots, allowing normal blood flow to return to the lungs.

Acute Pulmonary Embolism Team

• Rafael Cires-Drouet, MD | Vascular Medicine
• K. Barry Deatrick, MD | Cardiac Surgery
• Bartley P. Griffith, MD | Cardiac Surgery
• Kevin Jones, MD | Critical Care Medicine
• Khanjan Nagarsheth, MD | Vascular Surgery
• Shahab Toursavadkohi, MD | Vascular Surgery