Penumbra’s CAVT Evaluated for Outcomes and Resource Utilization in Intermediate-Risk PE Patients

December 16, 2025—Penumbra announced the publication of a new study that showed that the use of the company’s computer-assisted vacuum thrombectomy (CAVT) technology for intermediate-risk pulmonary embolism (PE) may shorten length of hospital stay, reduce complications, and improve discharge outcomes without increasing mortality compared to other treatment modalities.

The company further noted that the research suggests that CAVT, which is designed to rapidly remove blood clots via microprocessor-controlled aspiration, has the potential to help reduce health care costs.

Parag J. Patel, MD, et al published the study findings in The American Journal of Cardiology (2025;257:183-190).

According to the company, the investigators compared outcomes and health care resource utilization among patients treated with anticoagulation (AC); catheter-directed thrombolysis (CDT); other mechanical thrombectomy (MT); or CAVT using Penumbra’s Lightning 12 or Lightning Flash 1.0.

The company stated that the study was composed of adult inpatients with intermediate-risk PE discharged during a 3-year period. The patients were retrospectively identified from the Vizient Clinical Data Base. Treatment modalities were identified by ICD-10 codes. Propensity score matching equated groups 1:1 using demographics, payer, and hospital type.

As outlined by Penumbra, the study’s key findings included the following:

• The mean length of stay for CAVT was 4.6 versus 6.2 days for AC; 7 days for other forms of MT; and 7.1 days for CDT
• Postprocedure length of stay for CAVT was 3.8 versus 6.1 days for CDT and 6.2 days for other forms of MT
• Composite complications for CAVT were 1.2% versus 1.4 % for AC; 2.7% for CDT; and 4.1% for other forms of MT
• Development of acute kidney injury occurred in 1.9% of CAVT patients versus 2.7% for AC; 4.5% for CDT; and 4.9% for other forms of MT