Outcomes of Catheter-Directed Therapy Plus Anticoagulation Versus Anticoagulation Alone for Submassive and Massive Pulmonary Embolism

Background

Catheter-directed therapy (CDT) offers an alternative treatment to systemic thrombolysis for patients with massive and submassive pulmonary embolism.

Tenecteplase for the Treatment of Massive and Submassive Pulmonary Embolism

Background: Data on thrombolytic therapy disclose benefits from thrombolytic therapy in patients with massive and submassive pulmonary embolism (PE). Previously published case reports have described the successful use of tenecteplase under these conditions.Methods: Four patients with massive and submassive PE received a weight-optimized dosing regimen of tenecteplase, administered as an intravenous bolus.Results: All patients experienced clinically relevant improvement of dyspnea following thrombus regression. Regression of right ventricular enlargement was documented in three cases. Tenecteplase was well tolerated and did not cause bleeding complications. Thirty-day mortality was zero.Conclusions: These data support the use of this new thrombolytic agent in patients with massive and submassive PE; however, sufficiently powered, randomized trials have not yet taken place for these indications.     

Inferior Vena Cava Filters in Elderly Patients with Stable Acute Pulmonary Embolism

Background

Patients aged >60 years with pulmonary embolism who were stable and did not require thrombolytic therapy were shown to have a somewhat lower in-hospital all-cause mortality with vena cava filters. In this investigation we further assess mortality with filters in stable elderly patients.

Outpatient Management of Patients following Pulmonary Embolism

Pulmonary embolus is a common reason for hospitalization and requires close follow-up and management in the office setting. The main issues facing the clinician include determination of the appropriate anticoagulation regimen, how long to anticoagulate, and whether an evaluation for hypercoagulable states is indicated. The decisions will depend on individual patient factors and assessment of the risks and benefits for that patient.     

Inferior Vena Cava Filters in Patients with Acute Pulmonary Embolism and Cancer

Background

Administrative data have shown a lower mortality in hospitalized patients with pulmonary embolism and cancer who receive a vena cava filter. In the absence of a randomized controlled trial of vena cava filters in such patients, further investigation is necessary. Therefore, we performed this investigation using administrative data from a different database than used previously, and we investigate patients hospitalized in more recent years.

Inhaled Nitric Oxide Improves Pulmonary Functions Following Massive Pulmonary Embolism: A Report of Four Patients and Review of the Literature

Acute pulmonary embolism increases pulmonary vascular resistance and may lead to acute right ventricular failure and cardiocirculatory collapse and respiratory failure, possibly resulting in substantial morbidity and mortality. Inhaled nitric oxide (NO) dilates pulmonary blood vessels and has been used to reduce pulmonary vascular resistance in patients with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension and acute respiratory distress syndrome. This case series describes our experience with inhaled NO administered to four patients suffering from acute massive pulmonary embolism following abdominal surgery. The four described patients recovering from small bowel resection, pancreatoduodenectomy, hemipelvectomy, or recent gastrointestinal bleeding had severe respiratory and hemodynamic deterioration due to pulmonary embolism. Each received inhaled NO (20–25 ppm) via the inspiratory side of the breathing circuit of the ventilator. Pulmonary and systemic blood pressures, heart rate, and lung gas exchange improved in all the patients within minutes after the initiation of NO administration. Inhaled NO may be useful in treating acute massive pulmonary embolism. This potential application warrants further investigation.     

肺栓塞临床及预后影响因素分析

目的 :探讨肺栓塞的临床特点、诊断程序、治疗措施和预后的影响因素。方法 :对我院1995～ 2 0 0 3年确诊的 38例肺栓塞病例的资料进行回顾性分析。结果 :肺栓塞患者以 4 0～ 6 0岁年龄段所占比例最高。肺栓塞易患因素居前 2位的分别为心血管疾病和静脉血管病。肺栓塞的常见症状有呼吸困难、咳嗽、心悸、胸痛、咯血、晕厥等。实验室检查 ,D -二聚体阳性者占 77.8% ,肺核素扫描显示肺段灌注缺损的敏感性为 10 0 %。接受溶栓治疗的患者 ,死亡率为 2 3.1% ,接受抗凝治疗的患者 ,死亡率为 38.5 %。发现收缩压 <90mmHg、PaO2 <6 5mmHg、PaCO2 <2 5mmHg、P(A-a)O2 较高及受累肺段数较多等是肺栓塞预后不良的影响因素。结论 :肺栓塞的临床表现多样 ,对于有心血管疾病的中老年患者 ,当出现呼吸系统症状时要警惕肺栓塞的可能 ,应根据病情的轻重缓急制定相关的检查和治疗方案。对于存在预后不良影响因素的肺栓塞患者 ,要高度警惕 ,加强监测 ,积极治疗 ,争取降低死亡率。     

Optimal Therapy for Unstable Pulmonary Embolism

There are no randomized controlled trials of thrombolytic therapy, pulmonary embolectomy, or inferior vena cava (IVC) filters in patients with unstable pulmonary embolism (those in shock or on ventilator support). Yet, there are many investigations of these treatments based on retrospective cohort studies using administrative data from large government and commercial databases. Extensive data from these cohort studies showed that thrombolytic therapy resulted in the lowest in-hospital all-cause mortality. The results of thrombolytic therapy were greatly improved if IVC filters were added. In fact, IVC filters decreased in-hospital all-cause mortality with anticoagulants alone or with pulmonary embolectomy as well as thrombolytic therapy in adults of all ages with unstable pulmonary embolism. The IVC filters reduced mortality only if inserted on the day of admission or the next day, while the patients were unstable and in a fragile condition. We conclude that the best treatment for patients with unstable pulmonary embolism is thrombolytic therapy combined with an IVC filter inserted during the period of fragility, while the patient is unstable, and this treatment is indicated in all unstable patients irrespective of age.     

Hospitalizations for High-Risk Pulmonary Embolism

BackgroundThe incidence of pulmonary embolism has been increasing. It has been suggested that this may reflect overdiagnosis due to widespread use of computed tomographic pulmonary angiography. The purpose of the present investigation is to further evaluate whether the increasing incidence of pulmonary embolism represents overdiagnosis.MethodsThis was a retrospective cohort study based on administrative data from the National (Nationwide) Inpatient Sample 1999-2014. International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification codes were used. The population of the United States according to year was determined from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.ResultsThe incidence of pulmonary embolism increased from 65/100,000 population in 1999 to 137/100,000 population in 2014 (P < .0001). High-risk pulmonary embolism increased from 2.2/100,000 population to 9.9/100,000 population (P < .0001). The incidence of primary pulmonary embolism increased from 40/100,000 population in 1999 to 73/100,000 population in 2014 (P < .0001). High-risk pulmonary embolism in patients with a primary diagnosis of pulmonary embolism increased from 0.8/100,000 population in 1999 to 2.3/100,000 population in 2014 (P < .0001). Among patients with pulmonary embolism, the incidence of high-risk pulmonary embolism increased from 1999-2014 (P = .0025). In-hospital all-cause mortality in high-risk patients was 102,402 of 195,909 (52.2%).ConclusionsThe incidence of high-risk pulmonary embolism has increased concordantly with the increasing incidence of all pulmonary embolism. Increasing proportions of patients with potentially lethal pulmonary embolism are being diagnosed.     

Deep Vein Thrombosis and Pulmonary Embolism in Cirrhosis Patients

Background and Aims It is a commonly held notion that patients with cirrhosis do not suffer from deep vein thrombosis (DVT) or pulmonary embolism (PE) because they are naturally anticoagulated. However, to date, no studies have been carried out that objectively address this issue. We conducted a study to examine the relationship between cirrhosis and DVT/PE events. Methods A case–control study of patients seen at a tertiary care hospital was performed. Cases were hospitalized patients with biopsy and/or imaging plus clinical evidence of cirrhosis. Well-matched patients with no known evidence of cirrhosis served as controls. The DVT/PE events were identified by the international classification of disease-9 (ICD-9) codes and confirmed with radiographic/nuclear imaging. The Charlson Index was calculated to determine the comorbidity. The incidence of DVT/PE in cirrhotic patients was also compared to patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), congestive heart failure (CHF), and solid organ cancers. Results This study consisted of 963 cirrhotics and 12,405 controls. Both the incidence of DVT/PE (1.8 vs. 0.9%, P = 0.007) and Charlson Index scores (3.2 ± 1.8 vs. 0.9 ± 1.5, P < 0.001) were higher in cirrhotics than in the controls. However, in the multivariate analysis, the presence of cirrhosis was not associated with DVT/PE [odds ratio (OR) 0.87, P = 0.06]. Partial thromboplastin time (PTT; OR 0.88, P = 0.04) and serum albumin (OR 0.47, P = 0.03) were the independent predictors of DVT/PE. The incidence of DVT/PE in cirrhotics (1.8%) was lower than that in patients with other medical illnesses: 7.1% in CKD, 7.8% in CHF, and 6.1% in cancers. Conclusion Patients with cirrhosis do not have a lower risk of DVT/PE than non-cirrhotic controls without other significant co-morbidities, such as CHF, CKD, and solid organ cancers. Partial thromboplastin time and serum albumin were found to be independently predictive of DVT/PE in cirrhotic patients.     

52例肺栓塞治疗前后纤维蛋白原和D二聚体的变化

本文对 52例肺栓塞患者治疗前后纤维蛋白原和D 二聚体进行测定 ,发现治疗有效者纤维蛋白原有明显下降 (P <0 .0 5) ,无效者则有上升趋势 ,而D 二聚体在治疗 2 4h后下降 ,其中有效者下降明显 (P <0 .0 5) ,结果表明 ,纤维蛋白原和D 二聚体的变化对肺栓塞疗效判定有一定临床意义     

Vena Cava Filters in Unstable Elderly Patients with Acute Pulmonary Embolism

Background

Inferior vena cava filters are associated with a reduced in-hospital all-cause case fatality rate of unstable patients with acute pulmonary embolism. Whether vena cava filters are associated with a reduced case fatality rate in adults of all ages with unstable pulmonary embolism, particularly the elderly, has not been determined.

Methods

Unstable patients with pulmonary embolism (in shock or ventilator dependent) 1999-2008 were identified from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample.

Results

Among 21,095 unstable patients with pulmonary embolism who received thrombolytic therapy, in-hospital all-cause case fatality rate was lower in every age group who received a vena cava filter in addition to thrombolytic therapy (P = .0012 to <.0001). Patients aged ≥81 years showed the greatest absolute reduction of case fatality rate with filters (19.3%). Among 50,210 unstable patients who did not receive thrombolytic therapy, case fatality rate also was lower in every age group who received a vena cava filter (all P <.0001). Patients aged ≥81 years with vena cava filters showed the greatest absolute risk reduction of case fatality rate (27.7%).

Conclusion

Vena cava filters are associated with a reduced in-hospital all-cause case fatality rate in unstable adults with pulmonary embolism, irrespective of age.     

急性肺动脉栓塞的临床诊断研究进展

肺动脉栓塞作为一种病死率较高的常见疾病,但缺乏确实有效的单一无创检查方法,现就各种诊断方法及其进展,尤其是合理的选择进行综述。     

Inferior Vena Cava Filters in Stable Patients with Acute Pulmonary Embolism Who Receive Thrombolytic Therapy

Background

There is a need for further analyses of subgroups of patients with pulmonary embolism who might benefit from vena cava filters. In the present investigation, we analyze mortality with vena cava filters in the subgroup of stable patients with pulmonary embolism who received thrombolytic therapy. We use a different database than used previously, and we analyze data in more recent years.