August 13, 2025
EDMONTON – A new minimally invasive, non-surgical procedure is now available for post-operative patients who develop potentially life-threatening blood clots in their lungs.
Pulmonary embolism is the sudden blockage of a major blood vessel or artery in the lung, usually by a blood clot, which makes breathing difficult. It is also the third leading cause of cardiovascular death after heart attack and stroke. Many post-operative patients develop pulmonary embolism but cannot be administered a clot-busting medication after surgery, so they would require additional thoracic surgery to remove the blockages.
Now these patients have another option. The new procedure uses continuous X-ray imaging to guide a catheter (a long, thin tube) inside a vein to travel through the heart and reach the lungs to remove dangerous blood clots. Once the clots are removed, blood flow is restored immediately, significantly reducing risk of heart failure and death. Because it's minimally invasive, these patients typically go home sooner than those who undergo thoracic surgery.
"For post-operative patients where medication is not an option, immediate removal of the clots is essential to saving the patient," says Dr. Kiran Reddy, one of several interventional radiologists in Edmonton who perform the new procedure. "The risk of death is very high with post-surgical patients presenting with a pulmonary embolism, so the ability to act quickly and remove the clots in an interventional suite is a game-changer for patients."
This procedure was first performed last March as part of a pilot project at Royal Alexandra Hospital and University of Alberta Hospital, and is now the standard treatment at these two hospitals, as well as at the Stollery Children's Hospital and Foothills Medical Centre in Calgary. More than 50 of these procedures have been performed in the Edmonton Zone over the past year.
Dave Batke, 58, opted for the new procedure last October after having difficulty breathing following back surgery and being diagnosed with a pulmonary embolism.
"My lungs were filled with clots," says Batke. "I was gasping for air and it felt like I had a huge weight on my chest."
Batke's procedure began with a small incision in the leg. A catheter was inserted into his vein and navigated to his lungs. Dr. Reddy then used suction to remove each clot.
"Dr. Reddy spent two hours cleaning out my lungs, including one clot that was eight inches long," says Batke.
"I was out of the hospital four days later feeling immediate relief from my chest. I had a life-saving procedure that didn't involve invasive surgery. I am so thankful. It brings a lot of hope for others like me."
Most patients are under mild sedation during the procedure, which typically lasts one to two hours. Many patients often feel immediate symptom relief during the procedure, which is designed for the minimally invasive removal of large clots in a single session.
Alberta Health Services provides a range of healthcare services for more than four million adults and children living in Alberta. Our mission is to provide excellent, patient-focused healthcare that is accessible and sustainable for all Albertans. Our current focus is on reducing emergency department wait times, improving EMS response times, increasing access to surgeries, and improving patient flow.
