Catheter-directed pulmonary thrombolysis treats vascular blockages and improves blood flow of pulmonary circulation by dissolving abnormal blood clots.

A blood clot, or thrombus, can block off blood supply to lungs and cause serious damage.

Image-guided, minimally invasive procedures such as thrombolysis are performed by a specially trained interventional radiologist in an interventional radiology suite.

To treat the clot with medication, the catheter is left in place and connected to a special machine that delivers the medication at a precise rate.

Clot-dissolving medications are delivered through the catheter over several hours to a few days. It may take up to 72 hours for the clot to dissolve (although most clots dissolve within 24 hours), during which time patient will be monitored closely by the medical staff.

When the procedure is complete, the catheter is removed and pressure is applied to stop any bleeding. No stitches are visible on the skin. The tiny opening in the skin is covered with a dressing.

Catheter-directed thrombolysis can greatly improve blood flow and reduce or eliminate the related symptoms and effects without the need for more invasive surgery.

Thrombolysis is a safe, highly effective way of re-establishing circulation blocked by a clot.

Thrombolysis is less invasive than conventional open surgery to remove clots and the hospital stay is relatively brief. Blood loss is less than with traditional surgical treatment and there is no obvious surgical incision.

No surgical incision is necessary—only a small nick in the skin that does not need stitches.