Pulmonary embolism management

Initial ABCDE assessment

Follow usual ABCDE approach if critically ill.

Investigations

• Confirm/exclude diagnosis
  • D-Dimer if low PE Wells score
  • CTPA (or V/Q scan if CTPA contraindicated)
• Other tests
  • ECG may show: tachycardia; RV strain, i.e. T-wave inversion in right precordial and inferior leads; RBBB; right axis deviation; S₁Q₃T₃; RA enlargement, i.e. P pulmonale; RV dilation, i.e. dominant R in V1
  • CXR may show: wedge infarcts; regional oligaemia; enlarged pulmonary artery; effusion
  • Echocardiogram: right ventricular dysfunction/dilation
  • Troponin: higher mortality risk if raised
• Consider looking for cause if unprovoked PE 
  • Malignancy: undertake history, examination and basic blood tests (FBC, U&Es, LFTs, coagulation screen); further investigations only if relevant symptoms/signs
  • Antiphospholipid syndrome: check antiphospholipid antibodies if antiphospholipid syndrome suspected
  • Hereditary thrombophilia: consider testing if first-degree relative also has DVT or PE

Management algorithm

Calculate the PE Wells score to predict the likelihood of PE. This score takes into account risk factors (recent surgery/immobility, previous VTE, cancer), symptoms of VTE (DVT symptoms, HR, haemoptysis), and the likelihood of alternative diagnosis (Wells et al. 2001).

Reference: NICE ‘NG158 Venous thromboembolic diseases: diagnosis, management and thrombophilia testing’ 2020

Therapeutic anticoagulant options

LMWH

Usually given initially in larger PEs until vital signs have normalised, incase patient deteriorates and thrombolysis is required (DOAC is relative contraindication). Not usually used long term because patient will have to give daily self-injections.

DOAC

Most commonly used anticoagulation. Rivaroxaban and apixaban are preferred and have loading doses; edoxaban and dabigatran do not have loading doses and so are started after 5 days of LMWH.

Warfarin

Usually used where DOACs are contraindicated (e.g. renal impairment, body weight >120kg). If using warfarin, continue LMWH until had ≥5 days dual therapy and is INR 2-3.

Thrombolysis and other interventions

• ‘High-risk’ PE (persistent hypotension, obstructive shock or cardiac arrest) → immediate thrombolysis 
• ‘Intermediate-risk’ PE (haemodynamically stable, but with RV dysfunction and/or myocardial necrosis) → consider heparin infusion initially, so thrombolysis can be given more safely if patient develops high-risk features 

NB: thrombolysis is followed by an unfractionated heparin infusion. If thrombolysis is contraindicated or fails, other options such as IR-guided mechanical thrombectomy can be considered.

Reference: European Society of Cardiology ‘Guidelines for the diagnosis and management of acute pulmonary embolism’ 2019

Try some questions

List 4 DOACs and their mechanism of action

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Which drug is used for thrombolysis?

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What are the risks of thrombolysis?

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1. Acute assessment – shortness of breath
2. Pulmonary Embolism history
3. Pulmonary Embolism history and results interpretation
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