Pulmonary embolism recommendations for initial anticoagulation for acute PE

Associate Editors-in-Chief: Ujjwal Rastogi, MBBS [mailto:urastogi@perfuse.org]

Overview
Patients with objectively confirmed PE and having no contraindications should receive prompt anticoagulant therapy with either:


 * Subcutaneous low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH), or
 * Unfractionated heparin (intravenous or subcutaneous) with monitoring, or
 * Subcutaneous UFH (unmonitored weight-based), or
 * Subcutaneous fondaparinux

==ACC/AHA Guidelines- Recommendations for Initial Anticoagulation for Acute PE (DO NOT EDIT) ==

Class I
1. Therapeutic anticoagulation with subcutaneous LMWH, intravenous or subcutaneous UFH with monitoring, unmonitored weight-based subcutaneous UFH, or subcutaneous fondaparinux should be given to patients with objectively confirmed PE and no contraindications to anticoagulation (Level of Evidence: A).

2. Therapeutic anticoagulation during the diagnostic workup should be given to patients with intermediate or high clinical probability of PE and no contraindications to anticoagulation (Level of Evidence: C).

Guidelines Resources

 * Guidelines on the management of Pulmonary embolism: Management of Massive and Submassive Pulmonary Embolism, Iliofemoral Deep Vein Thrombosis, and Chronic Thromboembolic Pulmonary Hypertension