How is surgery used to treat pulmonary embolism?
To improve blood flow, a blood clot can be removed during surgery. Or the clot might be removed with a less invasive procedure that uses a catheter (a thin tube that's guided through a blood vessel). This surgery or procedure is called an embolectomy.
An embolectomy is not common. But it may be done for a few reasons. These include:
- You can't have thrombolytic treatment.
- The clot is so dangerous that you can't wait for medicine to work.
- You've had thrombolytic treatment, but it hasn't worked well enough.
©2011-2024 Healthwise, Incorporated
The content above contains general health information provided by Healthwise, Incorporated, and reviewed by its medical experts. This content should not replace the advice of your healthcare provider. Not all treatments or services described are offered as services by us. For recommended treatments, please consult your healthcare provider.