A pulmonary embolism is a blood clot that travels to the pulmonary arteries, the blood vessels that supply blood to the lungs. PE is a medical emergency that requires immediate attention. Without timely intervention, a PE can lead to high blood pressure in the lungs (pulmonary hypertension) which eventually weakens the heart and can be life-threatening.
The Pulmonary Embolism Response Team (PERT) provides collaborative, advanced treatment for patients with both sudden (acute) pulmonary embolism and long-lasting (chronic) pulmonary embolism.
The specialists in the PERT provide rapid care for emergency PE cases and long-term follow-up after PE patients are discharged. We meet regularly to plan care for our patients with severe PE, formulating personalized, effective treatment plans.
We are among the top 10 most advanced centers in the country in PE treatment and are one of only around 20 chronic PE response teams in the country.
Pulmonary Embolism Treatment: The Penn Medicine Advantage:
Penn Medicine has a proven track record of evidence-based, exceptional PE care. The PERT continues to build on this reputation by providing an innovative and targeted approach to treatment for patients with severe pulmonary embolism.
When you choose Penn for pulmonary embolism treatment, you benefit from:
- Team-based care: Multiple specialists work together quickly to find the right treatment plan for you. Acute PE assessment involves an interventional cardiologist, pulmonary physician, cardiac surgeon and anesthesia critical care specialist. Chronic PE care involves the expertise of a pulmonologist, interventional cardiologist, surgeon and radiologist.
- History of innovation: Penn is a national pioneer in PERT. We were one of the first functioning PERTs in the country, establishing the standards of care now used nationwide. We also helped develop the International PERT Consortium, a worldwide group that aims to improve PE evaluation and treatment.
- Clinical trials: The PERT leads a variety of studies to improve PE care. Our clinical trial involvement leads to direct care improvements and allows us to offer novel technologies as soon as they become available. We are so established in this field that companies approach us with invitations to participate in clinical trials.
- Extensive range of treatments: We have all the available FDA-approved technologies to remove blood clots or deliver medicines to dissolve them. It's rare to offer all the available devices. We also offer an innovative procedure called balloon pulmonary angioplasty to open the pulmonary blood vessels. We are one of only a few teams in the nation with the expertise to offer this treatment.
Pulmonary Embolism Treatments We Offer
The Penn Pulmonary Embolism Response Team spearheads PE treatment at Penn Medicine. We offer the full complement of leading-edge pulmonary embolism treatments, including investigational therapies. Treatment plans may include:
- Medications: Drugs to thin blood (anticoagulants) or break up clots (thrombolytics) are often the first line of treatment if we suspect a pulmonary embolism.
- Clot removal: Interventional cardiologists specializing in peripheral interventions perform catheter-based procedures to break up or pull out a clot. We use every approved clot removal device.
- Inferior vena cava (IVC) filter placement: An IVC filter may catch and interrupt a blood clot from traveling to the heart or lungs. The filter is placed in the inferior vena cava, the primary vein that takes blood to the heart from the legs.
- Balloon pulmonary angioplasty: This catheter-based treatment is often used for chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH), a condition that causes many small pulmonary emboli. An interventional cardiologist threads small balloons through a blood vessel in the groin and into pulmonary arteries. Once in place, the balloons are inflated to displace clots and restore blood flow.
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