Ep. 677 Pulmonary Embolism: Catheter-Based Therapy & Importance of Blood Return with Dr. Jay Giri and Dr. Julie Bulman

As new guidelines redefine risk stratification for pulmonary embolism (PE), emerging technologies are also changing what it means to achieve procedural success. On this episode of the BackTable Podcast, interventional radiologist Dr. Julie Bulman (BIDMC) and interventional cardiologist Dr. Jay Giri (Penn Medicine) join host Dr. Chris Beck to discuss the evolving frameworks and technologies redefining standards for catheter-directed treatment of intermediate- and high-risk PE. They discuss the role of multidisciplinary PERT teams, patient selection, the impact of new thrombectomy devices, and why autologous blood return is a growing consideration for procedural success. --- Get the BackTable apphttps://www.backtable.com/app --- This podcast is supported by Endovascular Engineering (E2)E2Helo.com --- Timestamps 00:00 - Introduction03:42 - Referral Patterns and PERT Scope05:25 - PE Workup Essentials07:26 - Targeted Assessment of Acuity11:36 - Reliability of the Walk Test14:35 - PE Treatment Pathways19:26 - Procedural Walkthrough24:15 - Catheter Sizing30:05 - Adjunct Aspiration Device Features35:09 - Blood Return Process and Safety40:03 - Helo Study Early Results45:09 - Determining Procedural Endpoints50:20 - Future Trials and Technologies53:48 - Final Thoughts and Closing Remarks --- More about this episode The discussion highlights how PERT teams use updated guidelines and thorough clinical evaluation to guide patient classification and treatment pathway selection. Dr. Bulman and Dr. Giri outline their criteria for choosing anticoagulation, catheter-directed lysis, or mechanical clot removal, and compare the techniques and learning curves for medium- versus large-bore thrombectomy devices. They explore the significance of autologous blood return during aspiration thrombectomy, noting how new reinfusion systems can reduce blood loss and influence procedural decision-making. Dr. Bulman also presents early Helo Thrombectomy System study data demonstrating the benefits of mechanized aspiration with minimal complications. The episode closes with a critical look at defining true functional procedural endpoints beyond pulmonary arterial pressures and offers a preview of upcoming trial data, such as HI-PEITHO and PEERLESS II, that could further advance PE management. --- Resources 2026 AHA/ACC/ACCP/ACEP/CHEST/SCAI/SHM/SIR/SVM/SVN Guideline for the Evaluation and Management of Acute Pulmonary Embolism in Adultshttps://doi.org/10.1161/CIR.0000000000001415 Ultrasound-Facilitated, Catheter-Directed Thrombolysis in Intermediate-High Risk Pulmonary Embolism (HI-PEITHO)https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT04790370 PEERLESS II studyhttps://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT06055920 Catheter-Directed Thrombolysis in Intermediate-High–Risk Pulmonary Embolism (PRAGUE-26)https://doi.org/10.1056/nejmoa2608012 Pulmonary Embolism International THrOmbolysis Study-3 (PEITHO-3)https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT04430569 --- BackTable Vascular & Interventional (VI) is the go-to podcast for interventional radiologists, vascular surgeons, and interventional cardiologists. Download the free BackTable app to get early access to new episodes, cases, and courses curated by physicians in your specialty. ► https://www.backtable.com/app