New tech for lung clots

Catheter-directed clot treatment cuts early collapse risk in pulmonary embolism trial

March 30, 2026
1:43 pm

An acute pulmonary embolism occurs when a blood clot blocks one or more vessels in the lung. In patients at moderate or high risk, the blockage can impair the heart's ability to pump blood through the lungs to such an extent that it becomes life-threatening. About 15% of those affected die as a result of acute pulmonary embolism. Blood-clot-dissolving medications, known as thrombolytics, can effectively dissolve vascular blockages. However, they increase the risk of severe bleeding, particularly in the brain. For this reason, they are generally used only in the most severe cases.

An international team led by Univ. Prof. Dr. Stavros Konstantinides, Medical Director of the Center for Thrombosis and Hemostasis (CTH) at University Medical Center Mainz, researched the clinical efficacy and safety of an alternative treatment method in the HI-PEITHO (Higher-Risk Pulmonary Embolism Thrombolysis) study and compared it with the current standard therapy for acute pulmonary embolism. The work is published in the New England Journal of Medicine.

The method under investigation is highly targeted: a thin tube, the catheter, is guided through a vein in the groin into the lung. This allows the thrombolytic drug to be delivered directly into the blood clot. Additionally, the procedure uses ultrasound energy to accelerate the breakdown of the clot. This reduces treatment time and lowers the required dose of thrombolytic agents.

Catheter-directed clot treatment cuts early collapse risk in pulmonary embolism trial

Sign up for Blog Updates