Long term prevention of pulmonary emboli

More than 10 million cases of venous thromboembolisms are reported on an annual basis and are major contributors to morbidity and mortality. Studies have found that ≤90% of pulmonary embolisms originate from the abdominal and lower extremity veins. The mainstay of venous thromboembolism treatment has been, and still continues to be, anticoagulation. However, for patients for whom anticoagulation is contraindicated or has failed, physicians have turned to surgical innovations such as inferior vena cava (IVC) filters to create partial interruption of the IVC...

OBJECTIVE: Preventing untimely death in patients with peripheral artery disease (PAD) requires a detailed understanding of the predominant causes of death (COD). This literature review aims to describe how short- and long-term COD are reported in patients who had surgery for PAD. METHODS: A literature review was conducted according to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines for articles reporting specific causes of mortality in patients who had surgery for all stages of PAD...

Pulmonary embolism (PE) is associated with significant morbidity and mortality in the absence of properly prescribed anticoagulant treatment. Direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) are currently the anticoagulant treatment of first choice. The quality of anticoagulation in the acute phase of PE is a major determinant of patients' prognosis. The dose regimens for the initiation phase must therefore be rigorously respected to ensure the efficacy of the treatment. For the maintenance phase, the reduced doses used in atrial fibrillation are not applicable in venous thromboembolism (VTE) except for edoxaban...

INTRODUCTION: Pulmonary embolism (PE) is the major complication of thromboembolic disease. While a few qualitative studies have explored patient experience after PE, to our knowledge no literature review is available to date. The aim of this work was to explore patient experience after a PE episode through a systematic review of the literature comprising: patient experience, clinicians' perception of the patients' attitude and knowledge, and the patients' perception of VTE prevention strategies...

BACKGROUND: Effective treatment of upper extremity deep vein thrombosis (UEDVT) is crucial to prevent further complications. Various treatments, including percutaneous mechanical thrombectomy (PMT), catheter-directed thrombolysis (CDT), decompression surgery, and venoplasty are suggested for UEDVT. However, no prospective study has yet favored any of these treatments. This study presents a review of our experience with CDT followed by balloon venoplasty in patients with acute primary UEDVT...

BACKGROUND: Clinical practice guidelines recommend indefinite anticoagulation for a first unprovoked venous thromboembolism (VTE). OBJECTIVE: To estimate the benefit-harm tradeoffs of indefinite anticoagulation in patients with a first unprovoked VTE. DESIGN: Markov modeling study. DATA SOURCES: Systematic reviews and meta-analyses for the long-term risks and case-fatality rates of recurrent VTE and major bleeding. Published literature for costs, quality of life, and other clinical events...

A hypothermic circulatory arrest is usually used to correct thoracic aorta pathologies. The emergency treatment of acute type A aortic dissection and elective repair of aortic arch pathologies are the most common indications for using hypothermic circulatory arrest. A hypothermic circulatory arrest can also be used for surgical pulmonary thromboendarterectomy in patients with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension. Intervals with total circulatory arrest offer a clear surgical field for thrombus and emboli removal from the pulmonary artery branches...

Intracardiac metastasis of cervical squamous cell carcinoma (C-SCC) is rare, with historically poor long-term survival. We report the case of a 55-year-old woman with prior metastatic C-SCC who was found to have a right ventricular mass causing functional pulmonic stenosis and multiple pulmonary emboli 19 months after her initial diagnosis. She underwent surgical resection to prevent further embolization and heart failure. Pathology confirmed metastatic C-SCC and she was maintained on adjuvant pembrolizumab...

Background: As imaging technology improves small Pulmonary Emboli (PE) of debatable clinical relevance are increasingly detected leading to higher numbers of patients receiving anticoagulation. Although PE are an important cause of morbidity and mortality in patients undergoing repair of proximal femur fractures, this cohort of patients are at increased falls risk and are therefore largely unsuitable for long term anticoagulant therapy. Objective: 1. To review sequential Computed Tomography Pulmonary Angiograms (CTPA) performed in patients who underwent repair of proximal femur fractures at our institution...

Infective endocarditis (IE) is a serious complication of injection drug use. Right-sided IE encompasses 5-10% of all IE cases, with the majority involving the tricuspid valve (TV). The predominant causal organism is Staphylococcus aureus . Most cases of right-sided IE can be successfully treated with antimicrobials, but approximately 5-16% require eventual surgical intervention. We report the case of a 36-year-old female with active injection drug use who developed methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus IE of the tricuspid valve...

OBJECTIVE: Venous thromboembolism remains one of the leading causes of maternal mortality in the developed world. Retrievable inferior vena cava (IVC) filters have a role in the prevention of lethal pulmonary emboli when anticoagulation is contraindicated or has failed [1]. It is unclear whether or not the physiological changes in pregnancy influence efficacy and complications of these devices. The decision to place an IVC filter in pregnancy is complex and there is limited information in terms of benefit and risk to the mother...

We present the case of a 39-year-old pregnant woman with Klippel-Trenaunay syndrome (KTS). We demonstrate the risks of multiple, co-existing pro-thrombotic states (pregnancy, KTS), discuss complications of KTS (deep venous thromboembolisms and pulmonary emboli) and highlight general and disease-specific preventive measures against venous thromboembolic events (VTE). KTS is a rare condition and it's co-existence with pregnancy and VTEs is rarer still.

Essentials Low risk patients don't require venous thromboembolism (VTE) prophylaxis; low risk is unquantified. We used a Markov model to estimate the risk threshold for VTE prophylaxis in medical inpatients. Prophylaxis was cost-effective for an average medical patient with a VTE risk of ≥ 1.0%. VTE prophylaxis can be personalized based on patient risk and age/life expectancy. SUMMARY: Background Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a common preventable condition in medical inpatients. Thromboprophylaxis is recommended for inpatients who are not at low risk of VTE, but no specific risk threshold for prophylaxis has been defined...

After achievement of adequate anticoagulation, the natural history of acute pulmonary emboli ranges from near total resolution of vascular perfusion to long-term persistence of hemodynamically consequential residual perfusion defects. The persistence of perfusion defects is necessary, but not sufficient, for the development of chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH). Approximately 30% of patients have persistent defects after 6 months of anticoagulation, but only 10% of those with persistent defects subsequently develop CTEPH...

Acute pulmonary embolism (PE) continues to carry a high mortality if not recognized early and treated aggressively. Rapid recognition and diagnosis remains the mainstay of all efforts. Risk stratification early is paramount to guide therapy and achieve successful outcomes. Pulmonary emboli can generally be classified as massive, submassive, or stable. Fibrinolysis and/or surgical embolectomy are recommended for the treatment of the patient with massive PE to rescue the patient and restore hemodynamic stability...

BACKGROUND: Most ischaemic strokes are caused by a blood clot blocking an artery in the brain. Clot prevention with anticoagulants might improve outcomes if bleeding risks are low. This is an update of a Cochrane review first published in 1995, with recent updates in 2004 and 2008. OBJECTIVES: To assess the effectiveness and safety of early anticoagulation (within the first 14 days of onset) in people with acute presumed or confirmed ischaemic stroke. SEARCH METHODS: We searched the Cochrane Stroke Group Trials Register (June 2014), the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (CDSR), the Database of Reviews of Effects (DARE) and the Health Technology Assessment Database (HTA) (The Cochrane Library 2014 Issue 6), MEDLINE (2008 to June 2014) and EMBASE (2008 to June 2014)...

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus has been a clinically significant pathogen in orthopaedics for more than a decade. Research shows that these infections are more virulent and that treatment requires greater use of hospital resources. A multidisciplinary approach involving emergency department physicians, radiologists, interventional radiologists, MRI technicians, pediatricians, infectious disease specialists, anesthesiologists, and orthopaedic surgeons is necessary to optimize outcomes and minimize costs...

Infection of implantable cardiac electronic devices in particular lead endocarditis (cardiac device infective endocarditis (CDIE)) is an emerging problem with significant morbidity, mortality and health care costs. The epidemiology is characterised with advanced age and health care association in cases presenting within 6 months of implantation. Risk factors include those of the patient, the procedure and the device. Staphylococcal species predominate as the causative organisms. Diagnosis is reliably made by blood cultures and transesophageal echocardiography...

Venous thromboembolism is common. Most pulmonary emboli arise as thromboses in the deep veins of the lower extremities and may result in serious complications. Inferior vena cava filters (IVCF) are intended to prevent the passage of deep vein thrombosis to the pulmonary arteries. Accepted indications for IVCF placement include the presence of acute venous thromboembolism with inability to administer anticoagulation medication or failure of anticoagulation. Despite these clear indications, IVCF have been commonly placed in patients for primary prevention of pulmonary emboli in patients deemed to be at high risk, along with several other "soft" indications...

Inferior vena cava (IVC) filter placement has seen a rising trend over the past decade. Although effective in the prevention of future pulmonary emboli, filters are associated with several long-term complications including deep venous thrombosis, filter migration, filter fracture, and caval thrombosis. The IVC filters have evolved over the years to minimize these unwarranted sequelae. We describe a technique to remove a permanent IVC filter in a patient who no longer required mechanical protection.