Pulmonary embolism: the role of emergency scan and intervening radiology in medium-high-risk patients with pulmonary embolism

Submitted: 17 February 2013
Accepted: 17 February 2013
Published: 13 March 2010
Abstract Views: 1025
PDF: 1745
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Authors

Pulmonary embolism (PE) is a relative common cardiovascular emergency. Computed tomography (CT) angiography has became the method of choice for suspected PE in routine clinical practice but CT should not be the first-line test for all patients, except suspected high-risk patients and high clinical probability or “PE likely” patients. In these situations emergency phisician ‘s echographic cardiac study can be particularly helpful for a rapid patient management. The two cases prove the helpful use of echografic cardiac study in emergency room and rivet the necessity of an aggressive therapeutic management with primary aim of flow restoration through occluded pulmonary arteries. Percutaneous catheter embolectomy and fragmentation of proximal pulmonary arterial clots may be considerer, with multidisciplinary approach, as an alternative when thrombolysis is absolutely contraindicated or has failed, or as an alternative to surgical treatment.

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Citations

Eleonora Arboscello, Clinica di Medicina Interna 3 - Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria San Martino di Genova
Irene Ponassi, Clinica di Medicina Interna 3 - Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria San Martino di Genova
Agnese Lomeo, Dipartimento di Emergenza - Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria San Martino di Genova
Maria Nives Parodi, Dipartimento di Emergenza - Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria San Martino di Genova
Paolo Barbera, Dipartimento di Emergenza - Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria San Martino di Genova
Michela Morfino, Dipartimento di Emergenza - Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria San Martino di Genova
Nicoletta Pollicardo, Dipartimento di Emergenza - Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria San Martino di Genova
Roberto Delfino, Università Operativa di Cardiologia - Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria San Martino di Genova
Dahane Mhamed, Radiologia Interventistica - Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria San Martino di Genova
Roberto Tallone, Dipartimento di Emergenza - Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria San Martino di Genova

How to Cite

Arboscello, E., Ponassi, I., Lomeo, A., Parodi, M. N., Barbera, P., Morfino, M., Pollicardo, N., Delfino, R., Mhamed, D., & Tallone, R. (2010). Pulmonary embolism: the role of emergency scan and intervening radiology in medium-high-risk patients with pulmonary embolism. Emergency Care Journal, 6(1), 5–10. https://doi.org/10.4081/ecj.2010.1.5