Percutaneous thrombectomy for intermediate-risk or high-risk pulmonary embolism

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) issued full guidance to the NHS in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland on Percutaneous thrombectomy for intermediate-risk or high-risk pulmonary embolism in November 2023. NICE is currently updating this guidance. The new guidance will be published shortly.  Until then the NHS should continue to follow the recommendations outlined in the current version of the guidance. The Interventional Procedures Advisory Committee (IPAC) will consider this procedure review and NICE will issue an interventional procedures consultation document about its safety and efficacy for 4 weeks’ public consultation. IPAC will then review the consultation document in the light of comments received and produce a final interventional procedures document, which will be considered by NICE before guidance is issued to the NHS in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Status:

In progress

Technology type:

Procedure

Decision:

Selected

Reason for decision:

Anticipate the topic will be of importance to patients, carers, professionals, commissioners and the health of the public to ensure clinical benefit is realised, inequalities in use addressed, and help them make the best use of NHS resources

Rationale:

Review of existing guidance: IPG778 - Percutaneous thrombectomy for intermediate-risk or high-risk pulmonary embolism

ID number:

1929

Description:

A pulmonary embolism is a blockage in an artery in the lungs (pulmonary artery), usually caused by a blood clot that travels (embolus) to the lungs from deep veins in the legs. Symptoms can vary based on severity of the blockage but can include shortness of breath, chest pain and coughing up blood. An intermediate-risk pulmonary embolism affects how well the heart and lungs work but does not cause major blood circulation problems. A high-risk pulmonary embolism is a life-threatening condition caused by a large clot in a pulmonary artery. Treatment for pulmonary embolisms usually include medicine to help stop blood clots forming or getting bigger (anticoagulants) or medicine to break down clots (thrombolysis). Percutaneous thrombectomy is a minimally invasive procedure used to remove a blood clot from a blood vessel. During the procedure, a catheter-based device is inserted through a vein (usually a femoral vein). Imaging is used to guide the device through the blood vessels to the pulmonary arteries where the clot is located The device is then used to remove the clot. The aim is to rapidly remove the blockage to restore blood flow.

Provisional Schedule

Draft Scope published:

30 March 2026

Draft scope consultation:

30 March 2026 - 14 April 2026

Final scope:

05 May 2026

Email enquiries

If you have any queries please email IP@nice.org.uk

Timeline

Key events during the development of the guidance:

For further information on our processes and methods, please see our CHTE processes and methods manual