Pulmonary embolism

For patient information click here


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

Classification Scheme
I: Acute pulmonary embolism | Chronic pulmonary embolism

II: Massive pulmonary embolism | Submassive pulmonary embolism | Low-risk pulmonary embolism

III: Non-thrombotic pulmonary embolism

Diagnosis
Diagnosis Algorithm | CT equipped Hospitals | CT Non-equipped Hospitals | Low risk outpatient population | History & Symptoms | Physical Examination | Laboratory Tests | Electrocardiogram | CT | Ventilation/Perfusion scan | Echocardiography or Ultrasound | Chest x ray | MRI | Low Probability Diagnostic Tests

Treatment

 * Treatment Algorithm
 * Medical Therapy:


 * Anticoagulation: Heparin | Low molecular weight heparin | Factor Xa inhibitor | Warfarin


 * Fibrinolytic: Thrombolysis


 * Surgery:
 * Catheter-Based Interventions | Surgical Embolectomy | Inferior Vena Cava Filters | Thromboreductive Strategies | Percutaneous Transluminal Venous Angioplasty and Stent Placement | '''Pulmonary Endarterectomy

ACC/AHA Guidelines
 Guidelines for Initial Anticoagulation for Acute PE | Surgical embolectomy | Inferior vena cava filters | Iliofemoral DVT management guidelines | Compression therapy for DVT | Thromboreductive Strategies | Percutaneous Transluminal Venous Angioplasty and Stent Placement

ESC Guidelines

 * Prognostic assessment


 * Diagnosis: Suspected high-risk PE | Suspected non-high-risk PE ( Low clinical probability | Intermediate clinical probability | High clinical probability )


 * Treatment:  High-risk pulmonary embolism | Non-high-risk pulmonary embolism | Long-term treatment | Inferior vena cava filters | '''Thrombolysis

Discharge Care
Discharge Care | Follow-Up/Recurrence | Support group

For Patients
NIH information page

Related Chapters

 * Venous thromboembolism
 * Deep venous thrombosis