Pulmonary embolism occurs when a blood clot blocks an artery in the lungs, typically traveling from a deep vein in the leg. It affects roughly 1 in 1,000 Americans each year and can be life-threatening. Treatment has long centered on anticoagulants to prevent new clots, but research now explores clot removal devices, better risk prediction, and ways to prevent long-term lung damage.
What's actually going on in research
Trials are testing catheter-based clot removal for massive PE, comparing newer oral anticoagulants like apixaban and rivaroxaban to warfarin, studying shorter treatment durations for low-risk patients, and examining whether early intervention prevents chronic lung problems. Researchers are also working on better ways to identify who's at high risk for recurrence and who can safely stop anticoagulation.
Catheter-directed treatment
Devices that break up or remove large clots directly from the lungs may help patients with massive PE who can't take clot-busting drugs. Several systems are FDA-approved, and trials are comparing them to standard anticoagulation alone.
Shorter treatment
Studies are testing whether some patients can stop anticoagulants after three or six months instead of the traditional six to twelve months. The goal is to reduce bleeding risk without increasing clot recurrence.
Chronic complications
Researchers are studying why some people develop lasting shortness of breath and high lung pressure after PE. Trials are testing whether early aggressive treatment prevents this chronic damage.
What to know before you search
Eligibility typically depends on PE severity, how recently it occurred, other clotting risk factors, kidney function, and bleeding risk.
What types of trials are currently open
- Device trials — Testing catheters and other tools that physically remove or break up clots in the lungs, usually for large or high-risk PE.
- Anticoagulation trials — Comparing different blood thinners, treatment durations, or dosing strategies to find the best balance between preventing clots and avoiding bleeding.
- Prevention trials — Testing whether extended anticoagulation prevents recurrent clots in high-risk patients, or studying risk prediction tools to guide treatment decisions.
- Post-PE studies — Following patients after PE to understand long-term outcomes, including chronic shortness of breath, exercise capacity, and quality of life.
Recently added Pulmonary Embolism trials
Heart@Home Safety and Efficacy of Hospital-at-Home Care Versus Standard Hospitalization in Cardiac Patients
Hospital-at-Home (H@H) programs provide hospital-level acute care in the patient's home and may reduce healthcare utilization while improving patient experience. Although H@H models have been evaluated in several acute medical populations, evidence regarding their safety and efficacy in a broad population of patients with acute cardiovascular conditions remains limited. HeaRt@Home is a prospective, randomized controlled trial designed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of H@H compared with standard in-hospital care in clinically stable cardiac patients admitted to Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center. The study will enroll 150 adults hospitalized for selected cardiovascular conditions, including acute myocardial infarction following uncomplicated percutaneous coronary intervention, pericarditis or myocarditis, pulmonary embolism, post transcatheter valvular intervention, acute or worsening heart failure, or following Pacemaker or Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator Implantation. Eligible patients will be assessed within the first 12-24 hours following clinical intervention and randomized to either continued standard hospitalization or H@H care. Patients assigned to H@H will receive hospital-level care at home, including continuous remote monitoring of vital signs and cardiac rhythm, 24/7 access to the hospital monitoring center, at least one daily home visit by a nurse, and at least one daily virtual assessment by a cardiologist. Laboratory testing, imaging, oral and intravenous medications, oxygen therapy, and additional specialist consultations will be provided at home as clinically indicated. A predefined emergency pathway will enable rapid transfer back to the hospital when required. The study will assess safety outcomes including all-cause mortality, hospital-acquired infections, hemodynamic deterioration, acute kidney injury, venous thromboembolism, medication errors, 30-day readmission, and 30-day mortality. Patient experience will be evaluated using the 15-item Picker Patient Experience Questionnaire. Secondary outcomes will include length of stay, healthcare resource utilization, mobility and physical activity, sleep, arrhythmias, need for escalation to hospital care, and psychological outcomes. The study aims to determine whether a structured, technology-supported H@H model can provide safe and effective hospital-level care for appropriately selected cardiovascular patients while potentially improving patient experience and optimizing healthcare resource utilization.
Clinical Management and Outcomes After Lung Scintigraphy for Suspected Pulmonary Embolism in the Emergency Department
This study will review the medical records of adults evaluated for a suspected blood clot in the lungs (pulmonary embolism) in the emergency department at Antalya Training and Research Hospital. It will include patients who underwent a lung perfusion scan, which shows blood flow in the lungs. Some patients also underwent a ventilation scan, which shows airflow in the lungs. The main aim is to assess how scan findings were related to clinical decisions, including starting or stopping blood-thinning treatment, requesting additional imaging, and admitting patients to hospital or discharging them. The study will also examine time spent in the emergency department and hospital, intensive care admission, return visits to the emergency department, and deaths within 30 days. Researchers will compare patients who had a perfusion scan alone with those who also had a ventilation scan. All tests and treatments were provided as part of routine care. The study will use existing records only; patients will not undergo additional tests, receive study treatments, or be contacted for research.
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