This article will explore the goals and steps taken to treat a pulmonary embolism.
The wide range of PE treatment options and their indications will also be discussed.
What Are the Goals of Pulmonary Embolism Treatment?
Blood is pumped from the right ventricle through thepulmonary arteryinto the lungs to be oxygenated.
If a blood clot blocks the pulmonary artery, the pressure within the artery rapidly increases.
How Does Pulmonary Embolism Treatment Work?
Whats the Most Common Treatment?
The hallmark treatment for a pulmonary embolus isanticoagulation.
Also known asblood thinners, anticoagulants prevent new blood clots from developing.
What If the Clot Is Large or Life-Threatening?
By breaking up the clot, blood flow through the pulmonary artery can be rapidly restored.
Thrombolytics includestreptokinase,urokinase, andrecombinant tissuetype plasminogen activator.
The drawback to using a thrombolytic is its potential to cause bleeding.
Thecatheter-directed embolectomyis a minimally invasive procedure usually performed undersedationby an interventionalradiologistor surgeon.
During this procedure, the provider does the following:
Asurgical embolectomyis performed undergeneral anesthesiaby a surgeon.
During this operation, the surgeon does the following:
What If Anticoagulation Doesn’t Work?
Depending on the case, the filter may be placed temporarily or permanently.
It involves threading a catheter through a small cut made in the groin.
The catheter contains the collapsed filter, which expands and attaches to the walls of the inferior vena cava.
Ahematologist(doctor specializing in blood disorders) can help guide management decisions.
If you or a loved one is on an anticoagulant, take it as prescribed.
Also, inform your healthcare provider before starting any new medication, vitamin, supplement, or over-the-counter drug.
Furthermore, it’s common to bleed easily on an anticoagulant.
You may notice minorgum bleeding,easy bruising, orheavier menstrual bleeding.
Contact a provider if the bleeding is excessive or worsening.
Also, seek medical attention if you fall or bump your head.
Minor accidents and injuries can be serious for individuals on blood thinners.
Wear a medical identification bracelet or necklace noting the jot down of anticoagulant you are taking.
This information is needed in case of a medical emergency.
Major risk factors for a blood clot are cancer and recent surgery, trauma, or immobilization.
Moderate risk factors arehormone replacement therapy, smoking, pregnancy, and having obesity.
Suppose you or a loved one is found to have an inherited thrombophilia.
PE treatment aims to prevent complications and prevent the clot from enlarging and new clots forming.
The mainstay treatment for PE is taking an anticoagulant (a blood thinner).
Advanced therapies that involve dissolving or removing the blood clot are less commonly performed.
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