Pulmonary Embolism Treatments

Treatment

Treatment depends on the size and severity of the clot. Emergency treatment and hospitalization may be needed.

Treatments include:

Medicine

Options include:

Thrombolytic medicine to dissolve clots, for example:
- Streptokinase
- Urokinase
- Tissue plasminogen activator (TPA)
Anticoagulant medicine, called blood thinners (eg, heparin , warfarin ), to prevent more clots from forming

Surgery

In some cases when the blockage is very large, a type of surgery called embolectomy may be done to remove it.

Clot-Trapping Filter

If you have a repeated problem with blood clots, surgery may be done to place a filter in the main vein that leads from the legs to the heart and lungs. This filter traps clots before they can reach the lungs.

If you are diagnosed with pulmonary embolism, follow your doctor's instructions .

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