Thrombolytic therapy with or without a vena cava filter results in a lower case fatality rate in unstable patients with acute pulmonary embolism

Commentary on: Stein PD, Matta F. Thrombolytic therapy in unstable patients with acute pulmonary embolism: saves lives but underused. Am J Med 2012;125:465–70. Context Acute pulmonary embolism (PE) is a major health problem and is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. This is particularly true for patients with acute PE who are haemodynamically unstable.1 For instance, acute PE is associated with a 70% risk of death if cardiopulmonary arrest occurs and up to a 50% risk of death in those with shock secondary to PE.1 2 Several trials have evaluated the prognostic impact of thrombolytic therapy compared with anticoagulant therapy alone in patients with acute PE.1 Since less than 5% of patients with acute PE are haemodynamically compromised, there are currently no randomised trials evaluating the impact of thrombolytic therapy on survival following unstable PE. It is also unknown...
Source: Evidence-Based Medicine - Category: Internal Medicine Authors: Tags: Epidemiologic studies, Drugs: cardiovascular system, Stroke, Venous thromboembolism, Radiology, Pulmonary embolism, Clinical diagnostic tests Online articles Source Type: research