What are the best treatments for blood clots in the lung?

Heparin warfarin: Heparin (an anticoagulant is started immediately). Eventually, most patients are switched to a pill medication - typically Coumadin (aka warfarin) is started after a few days and continued for several months. Some patients have a filter placed in the large abdominal vein (inferior vena cava) to decrease the risk of subsequent clots.

Blood thinners: Generally after getting a blood clot in the lung you will need to be on a blood thinner for at least six months, depending on the cause of the blood clot, and any risk factors you might have for recurrence. Occasionally the blood clots need to be removed from the lungs to prevent long term injury to the heart, this is called a pulmonary thromboendarterectomy.