Failure of Therapy at Premortem Diagnosed Pulmonary Thromboembolism
Aysun Yakar, Fatih Yakar, Sibel Çağlar Atacan, Muhlis Yıldız, İbrahim Üzün
More Detail

Abstract

Objectives: We analyzed patients diagnosed premortem with pulmonary thromboembolism (PTE), focusing on causes of failure of therapy together with clinical characteristics.
Methods: This was a retrospective study of 25 cases. We classified PTE as massive, submassive and nonmassive.
Results: Of the 25 cases, 76% (19/25) had two or more risk factors for PTE. The point of origin of PE could be determined in only 44% of 25 cases. In 20 % (5/25) of cases diagnosed with PTE a maximum 3 months prior to death, the main cause of death was unknown. Of 10/20 (50%) massive and 8/20 (40%) submassive PTE cases, 5 and 3 underwent thrombolysis therapy, respectively. Both of 2/20 (10%) non-massive PTE cases underwent LMWH; in 1 of these cases, autopsy showed thrombus of a large pulmonary artery at 25 days after therapy. Submassive PTE cases were older and had a greater number of risk factors than did massive PTE cases. The point of origin of PTE was a right heart thrombus in six (24%) cases. Surgeries were performed in 3/6 (50 %) cases with right atrial thrombus. The survival duration after therapy in those who underwent surgery was longer than those who received thrombolysis and LMWH therapies.
Conclusions: Physicians may provide appropriate information to patients who have certain risk factors (trauma, surgery, pregnancy, etc.) to predict acute PE at a preventable stage. If risk factors are present for a prolonged period, or if new risk factors for PTE are identified, patients should be followed up carefully because of the risk of progression of thrombosis.

License

This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Article Type: Research Article

J Clin Exp Invest, Volume 7, Issue 3, September 2016, 237-243

https://doi.org/10.5799/jcei.328615

Publication date: 01 Sep 2016

Article Views: 1894

Article Downloads: 982

Open Access References How to cite this article