The development of blood clots or embolisms can be life threatening if they travel to the brain, lungs, or heart, and affect vital organ function or create an obstruction in the blood supply to that organ. Two interventional procedures are used to reduce the blood clot risks: thrombolysis and filter placement. Thrombolysis involves a process during which a catheter is guided to the site of the clot and clot-busting drugs (thromobolytics) are infused in order to break up the clot. Filter placement is a technique used when a blood clot is detected in the blood vessels of the leg or deep vein thrombosis (DVT). A filter is guided via a catheter into the vena cava, which carries blood to the heart. The filter is used to trap the blood clot before it can reach the lungs.
