Pulmonary embolism treatment approach: Difference between revisions
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'''Pulmonary embolism''' (PE) is a potentially lethal condition, with a mortality rate close to 30 percent without treatment. Thus prompt and effective therapy is of utmost important. In most cases, [[anticoagulant]] therapy is the mainstay of treatment. Acutely, supportive treatments, such as [[oxygen]] or [[analgesia]], are often required. | '''Pulmonary embolism''' (PE) is a potentially lethal condition, with a mortality rate close to 30 percent without treatment. Thus prompt and effective therapy is of utmost important. In most cases, [[anticoagulant]] therapy is the mainstay of treatment. Acutely, supportive treatments, such as [[oxygen]] or [[analgesia]], are often required. | ||
==Initial Treatment== | ==Initial Treatment== | ||
Depending on the clinical presentation, initial therapy is primarily aimed: | Depending on the clinical presentation, initial therapy is primarily aimed at: | ||
# Restoration of flow through occluded pulmonary arteries. | # Restoration of flow through occluded pulmonary arteries. | ||
# Prevention of potentially fatal early recurrences. | # Prevention of potentially fatal early recurrences. | ||
Revision as of 16:35, 22 April 2012
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Pulmonary Embolism Microchapters |
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Diagnosis |
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Pulmonary Embolism Assessment of Probability of Subsequent VTE and Risk Scores |
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Treatment |
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Follow-Up |
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Special Scenario |
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Trials |
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Case Studies |
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Pulmonary embolism treatment approach On the Web |
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Directions to Hospitals Treating Pulmonary embolism treatment approach |
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Risk calculators and risk factors for Pulmonary embolism treatment approach |
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1] Associate Editors-in-Chief: Ujjwal Rastogi, MBBS [2]
Overview
Pulmonary embolism (PE) is a potentially lethal condition, with a mortality rate close to 30 percent without treatment. Thus prompt and effective therapy is of utmost important. In most cases, anticoagulant therapy is the mainstay of treatment. Acutely, supportive treatments, such as oxygen or analgesia, are often required.
Initial Treatment
Depending on the clinical presentation, initial therapy is primarily aimed at:
- Restoration of flow through occluded pulmonary arteries.
- Prevention of potentially fatal early recurrences.
Most common reason for mortality is recurrent PE, occurring within the few hours of the initial event[1]. Anticoagulant therapy decreases mortality by 2% to 8%, thus making it absolutely necessary to start therapy as soon as possible[2].
Majority of patient should be started on anticoagulation, with one of the following drugs[3][4]:
- Subcutaneous Low molecular weight heparin
- Intravenous unfractionated heparin.
- Factor Xa Inhibitors (Fondaparinux).
Treatment Protocol[5]
Stabilize the patient
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Initial Treatment options (≤5 Days)
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| Long term treatment (≥3 Month) (INR target, 2.0-3.0) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Extended treatment (Indefinite) (INR target, 2.0-3.0 OR 1.5-1.9) | |||||||||||||||||||
Respiratory support
- Oxygen should be used in hypoxemic patients.
- In cases of severe hypoxemia or respiratory failure, mechanical ventilation and intubation should be started.
Hemodynamic support[6]
- Intravenous fluid administration is first-line therapy in hypotensive patients.
- IV Fluid should be administered cautiously, as increase Right ventricular load can disable Right ventricular oxygen supply-to-demand balance.
- If the hemodynamic status fails to improve, then intravenous vasopressors should be considered.
Extended treatment should be considered in patients with:
- Active Cancer.
- Unprovoked Pulmonary embolism.
- Recurrent venous thromboembolism.
Indefinite treatment refers to continued anticoagulation without a pre-scheduled stop date. Anticoaulation is stopped because of:
- Risk of bleeding.
- Change in patients preference.
Treatment of choice:Special considerations
- Subcutaneous or Intravenous Low molecular weight heparin.
- Hemodynamically stable patients.
- Thrombolysis
- High Risk Hemodynamically stable patients.
- Hemodynamically Unstable patients.
- Percutaneous mechanical thrombectomy.
- High risk patients with absolute contraindications to Thrombolytics.
- Patients with failed Thrombolysis.
- Low molecular weight heparin is preferred over Vitamin K antagonist.
Treatment Algorithm
| Stabilize the patient | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Is anticoagulation contraindicated ? | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Yes | No | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Diagnostic evaluation | Anticoagulate with SC LMWH or IV UFH | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| PE excluded | PE confirmed | Diagnostic evaluation | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No further Treatment | Inferior vena cava filter | PE excluded | PE confirmed | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Discontinue Anticoagulants | Clinicaly severe enough to need Thrombolysis | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Yes | No | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Is thrombolytic Contraindicated? | Continue Anticoagulants | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Yes | No | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Surgical emblectomy or catheter based interventions | Hold Anticoagulation, Give Thrombolytics then resume Anticoagulations | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Patient show Clinically Improvement | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No | Yes | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Surgical emblectomy or catheter based interventions | Continue Anticoagulation | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
References
- ↑ Carson JL, Kelley MA, Duff A, Weg JG, Fulkerson WJ, Palevsky HI, Schwartz JS, Thompson BT, Popovich J, Hobbins TE (1992). "The clinical course of pulmonary embolism". N. Engl. J. Med. 326 (19): 1240–5. doi:10.1056/NEJM199205073261902. PMID 1560799. Retrieved 2011-12-12. Unknown parameter
|month=ignored (help) - ↑ Goldhaber SZ, Visani L, De Rosa M (1999). "Acute pulmonary embolism: clinical outcomes in the International Cooperative Pulmonary Embolism Registry (ICOPER)". Lancet. 353 (9162): 1386–9. PMID 10227218. Retrieved 2011-12-12. Unknown parameter
|month=ignored (help) - ↑ Kearon C, Kahn SR, Agnelli G, Goldhaber S, Raskob GE, Comerota AJ; et al. (2008). "Antithrombotic therapy for venous thromboembolic disease: American College of Chest Physicians Evidence-Based Clinical Practice Guidelines (8th Edition)". Chest. 133 (6 Suppl): 454S–545S. doi:10.1378/chest.08-0658. PMID 18574272.
- ↑ Torbicki A, Perrier A, Konstantinides S, Agnelli G, Galiè N, Pruszczyk P; et al. (2008). "Guidelines on the diagnosis and management of acute pulmonary embolism: the Task Force for the Diagnosis and Management of Acute Pulmonary Embolism of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC)". Eur Heart J. 29 (18): 2276–315. doi:10.1093/eurheartj/ehn310. PMID 18757870.
- ↑ Agnelli G, Becattini C (2010). "Acute pulmonary embolism". N Engl J Med. 363 (3): 266–74. doi:10.1056/NEJMra0907731. PMID 20592294.
- ↑ Mercat A, Diehl JL, Meyer G, Teboul JL, Sors H (1999). "Hemodynamic effects of fluid loading in acute massive pulmonary embolism". Crit. Care Med. 27 (3): 540–4. PMID 10199533. Retrieved 2011-12-12. Unknown parameter
|month=ignored (help)