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Query: UMLS:C0034065 (pulmonary embolism)
 14,979 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Venous thromboembolic disease, including deep venous thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE), is an under-diagnosed and under-appreciated medical problem that results in significant patient morbidity and mortality. Inadequate venous thromboprophylaxis in surgical as well as medically ill patients results in DVT and PE that negatively impact patient outcomes and increase health-care costs. A high index of clinical suspicion combined with an evidence-based use of diagnostic tests helps identify patients with acute thrombosis. Failure to accurately and promptly diagnose and treat DVT and PE can result in excess morbidity and mortality due to postthrombotic syndrome, pulmonary hypertension, and recurrent thrombosis. Conversely, unnecessary anticoagulation provides risk in the absence of any tangible benefit. The immediate commencement of parenteral anticoagulant therapy with intravenous unfractionated heparin or a subcutaneous low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) upon presentation with DVT or PE (often even before objective diagnosis confirmation) is necessary to minimize propagation, embolization, and recurrence rates. We favor weight-based LMWH therapy in most of our patients with DVT because of the ability to treat exclusively or primarily in the outpatient setting. We still admit patients with PE for a minimum duration of 2 days for close observation. Subsequent conversion to oral anticoagulation with warfarin (target INR of 2.0 to 3.0 in most patients) should include an overlap with parenteral therapy of at least 4 to 5 days and until a stable target INR has been achieved. A minimum of 3 to 6 months of anticoagulation is recommended following a first episode of idiopathic DVT and any PE. A shorter course of therapy may be sufficient following a situational (eg, after surgery and postpartum) or calf DVT. Long-term, and at times lifelong, therapy should be considered in patients with thrombosis in the setting of a persistent acquired or inherited hypercoagulable state. Thrombolytic therapy probably should be reserved for young patients with iliofemoral DVT, any patient with a threatened limb due to impending venous limb gangrene, and those with PE who have objective evidence of cardiopulmonary compromise. Unfavorable risk-to-benefit and cost-to-benefit ratios make more extensive use of thrombolytics undesirable. The prevention of the postthrombotic syndrome with fitted, graduated compression garments and age- and gender-appropriate cancer screening are indicated in all patients with DVT in an attempt to minimize morbidity and mortality. Hypercoagulable state testing is indicated when the results of individual tests will significantly impact the choice of anticoagulant, intensity of therapy, therapeutic monitoring, family screening, family planning, prognosis determination, and most of all, duration of therapy.
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PMID:Deep Venous Thrombosis and Pulmonary Embolism. 1200 21

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is the leading cause of maternal mortality and morbidity in developed countries including Singapore. The physiological changes of pregnancy and other factors, such as maternal age, parity, obesity, operative delivery, general anaesthesia and congenital and acquired thrombophilia, further increase the risk of VTE throughout all three trimesters of pregnancy, including the puerperium. VTE has a wide spectrum of clinical presentations and a high index of clinical suspicion is vital. Clinicians should not withhold the use of chest X-rays and ventilation-perfusion (V/Q) lung scans in pregnancy as the radiation emitted is well within the safety limits to the fetus. Most treatment guidelines are based on studies in non-pregnant populations. Heparin is the preferred anticoagulant as it does not cross the placenta and therefore carries no teratogenic risk to the fetus. There is increasing experience and confidence in the use of fixed dose subcutaneous low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) which removes the need for cumbersome monitoring, thereby allowing outpatient treatment. LMWH may also have a lower risk of osteopaenic complications compared to unfractionated heparin. With the exception of acute phase treatment of pulmonary embolism, LMWH is used in all other aspects of the treatment of VTE in pregnancy, including thromboprophylaxis. Risk stratification of women into high and low risk allows judicious use of anticoagulants for thromboprophylaxis. Antenatal thromboprophylaxis with LMWH is reserved for high-risk women, while low-risk women will only require such cover in the postpartum period.
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PMID:Management of thromboembolic disease in pregnancy. 1206 Dec 91

Based on the recommended phase II doses for doxorubicin (60 mg/m2) and docetaxel (60 mg/m2) and the National Surgical Adjuvant Breast and Bowel Project's (NSABP) experience with doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide (cyclophosphamide 600 mg/m2), we conducted a phase II trial at 18 institutions using doxorubicin/docetaxel/cyclophosphamide (ATC) given every 21 days, in preparation for a major adjuvant breast cancer study (NSABP B-30), in which ATC would be used. Eligibility requirements included measurable stage IIIB/IV breast cancer, performance status 0-2, normal left ventricular ejection fraction, and no prior chemotherapy for metastatic disease (nontaxane adjuvant chemotherapy was allowed if completed > 12 months before entry and if the cumulative dose of doxorubicin was =240 mg/m2). Eighty-nine patients were entered who ranged in age from 30-78 years (38.2% < 50 years; 61.8% =50 years). A total of 33.7% of patients had stage IIIB disease, and 66.3% had stage IV disease. Among the stage IV patients, 20.3% had received prior adjuvant chemotherapy. Dexamethasone premedication (8 mg p.o. b.i.d. for 3 days) and prophylactic ciprofloxacin (500 mg p.o. b.i.d. days 5-15) were used. Colony-stimulating growth factors were reserved for secondary prophylaxis after prolonged or febrile neutropenia (FN) or documented severe infection in a prior cycle. After a cumulative dose of doxorubicin 480 mg/m2, patients could continue with docetaxel/cyclophosphamide alone. Eighty-nine patients and 577 courses were evaluable for toxicity. Median time on study as of May 2002 was 36.5 months (range, 28-47 months). Febrile neutropenia occurred in 34 patients (38%); 8 developed FN in the absence of prior prophylactic growth factor support; 26 developed FN despite prior growth factor support (for one patient this information was unavailable). There were no septic deaths. One patient died from pulmonary embolism. Other grade 3/4 adverse events included: nausea (9%), vomiting (7%), stomatitis (6%), diarrhea (4%), arthralgia/myalgia (3%), and neurotoxicity (1%). Clinical congestive heart failure was seen in 3 patients (3.4%). Seventy-seven patients were evaluable for best response within 6 cycles of therapy. Thirteen patients (16.9%) had a complete response, 43 (55.8%) had a partial response, for an overall response rate of 72.7%. The median response duration was 23.8 months (95% CI, 16.2-37.8 months), and the median time to progression or death was 23.5 months (95% CI, 16.3-38.7 months). The median survival time was 35.6 months (95% CI, 26.6-39.4 months). The administration of ATC with primary ciprofloxacin and secondary colony-stimulating factor prophylaxis is feasible and active. Its value in the adjuvant setting is currently under investigation.
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PMID:Phase II trial of doxorubicin/docetaxel/cyclophosphamide for locally advanced and metastatic breast cancer: results from NSABP trial BP-58. 1253 63

Venous thromboembolic disease is a common but likely underdiagnosed condition in the cancer patient population. Timely and accurate diagnosis of venous thromboembolism is imperative due to the unacceptable morbidity and mortality associated with a misdiagnosis. Because diagnosis of the condition based on clinical grounds alone is unreliable, physicians should select an appropriate objective diagnostic test to confirm or refute their clinical impressions. Compression duplex ultrasound is the best initial imaging test for both suspected upper- and lower-extremity deep venous thrombosis. Magnetic resonance venography (MRV) is a valid alternative when ultrasound is inconclusive, but contrast venography remains the "gold standard." Suspected pulmonary embolism should be initially evaluated by helical (spiral) computed tomography (CT) or ventilation/perfusion lung scintigraphy, the former being preferred in cases of obvious pulmonary or pleural disease. Indeterminate studies should prompt performance of contrast pulmonary angiography. Inferior vena cava thrombosis is also best assessed by contrast venography, with MRV and CT reserved as alternative imaging modalities. Evidence to date suggests that D-dimer assays remain unreliable in excluding venous thromboembolism in cancer patients. A newer latex agglutination D-dimer assay may prove to be clinically useful in this setting.
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PMID:Diagnosis of venous thromboembolic disease in cancer patients. 1259 36

A phase II trial at 12 institutions using AT (doxorubicin 60 mg/m2 plus docetaxel 60 mg/m2) given every 21 days was conducted. Eighty-nine patients were entered who ranged in age from 25 to 75 years, 41.6% of whom had stage IIIB disease and 58.4% of whom had stage IV disease. Among the patients with stage IV disease, 32.7% had received prior adjuvant chemotherapy. Premedication with dexamethasone (8 mg orally twice per day for 3 days) and prophylactic ciprofloxacin (500 mg orally twice per day on days 5-15) was used. Colony-stimulating growth factors were reserved for secondary prophylaxis after prolonged or febrile neutropenia (FN) or documented severe infection in an earlier cycle. After a cumulative dose of doxorubicin of 480 mg/m2, patients could continue to receive docetaxel (100 mg/m2) alone. Median time on study as of July 6, 2003, was 54 months. Febrile neutropenia occurred in 36 patients (41.9%): 23 developed FN in the absence of previous prophylactic growth factor support and 13 developed it despite previous growth factor support. One patient died from sepsis. Other grade 3/4 adverse events included nausea in 3.5%, vomiting in 4.7%, stomatitis in 8.1%, diarrhea in 5.8%, arthralgia/myalgia in 2.3%, fluid retention in 1.2%, pulmonary embolism in 1.2%, rest dyspnea in 1.2%, neuromotory toxicity in 1.2%, and neurosensory toxicity in 1.2%. Clinical congestive heart failure was seen in 2 patients (2.3%). Sixty-seven patients were evaluable for best response with 6 cycles of therapy. Fourteen patients (20.9%) had a complete response and 30 (44.8%) had a partial response, for an overall response rate of 65.7% in evaluable patients. The median response duration was 25.9 months, and the median time from entry to progression or death was 27.5 months. The median survival time for the 86 patients with endpoint information was 31.1 months. The administration of AT with primary ciprofloxacin and secondary colony-stimulating factor prophylaxis is feasible, and the combination is active. Its value in the adjuvant setting is currently under investigation.
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PMID:Phase II trial of a doxorubicin/docetaxel doublet for locally advanced and metastatic breast cancer: results from national surgical adjuvant breast and bowel project trial BP-57. 1533 53

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a common complication after acute ischemic stroke. When screened by 125I fibrinogen scanning or venography, the incidence of deep-vein thrombosis (DVT) in stroke patients is comparable with that seen in patients undergoing hip or knee replacement. Most stroke patients have multiple risk factors for VTE, like advanced age, low Barthel Index severity score or hemiplegia. As pulmonary embolism is a major cause of death after acute stroke, the prevention of this complication is of crucial importance. Prospective trials have shown that both unfractionated heparin (UFH) and low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) are effective in reducing DVT and pulmonary embolism in stroke patients. Current guidelines recommend the use of these agents in stroke patients with risk factors for VTE. Some clinicians are concerned that the rate of intracranial bleeding associated with thromboprophylaxis may outweigh the benefit of prevention of VTE. Low-dose LMWH and UFH seem, however, safe in stroke patients. Higher doses clearly increase the risk of cerebral bleeding and should be avoided for prophylactic use. Both aspirin and mechanical prophylaxis are suboptimal to prevent VTE. Graduated compression stockings should be reserved to patients with a clear contraindication to antithrombotic agents.
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PMID:Prevention of venous thromboembolism after acute ischemic stroke. 1594 9

Acute pulmonary embolism is an underdiagnosed and potentially lethal condition. Treatment may be lifesaving but is associated with severe side effects. Thus, reliable diagnostic imaging is essential. We conducted a literature review on the use of spiral computed tomography, lung scintigraphy and echocardiography in acute pulmonary embolism and identified 562 articles, of which 16 original papers met our inclusion criteria. From these, we concluded that none of the modalities is applicable in every situation. Spiral computed tomography can confirm the diagnosis but cannot rule out subsegmental embolism. With lung scintigraphy, perfusion imaging alone is probably sufficient and suited to both confirming and ruling out the diagnosis. Echocardiography should be reserved for patients with an emergent need for treatment and cannot rule out the diagnosis.
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PMID:[Diagnostic imaging in acute pulmonary embolism. The use of spiral computed tomography, lung scintigraphy and echocardiography]. 1622 26

The prognosis of acute pulmonary embolism (PE) is mainly related to the clinical presentation and circulatory state of the patient: the therapeutic strategy is consequently different, ranging from an aggressive treatment in patients in life-threatening clinical conditions to a "stabilization" treatment in those hemodynamically stable. Since the majority of PE patients are clinically stable, a well conducted anticoagulant therapy, either with unfractionated or low-molecular-weight heparins together with a vitamin K antagonist, is sufficient to stop thrombus extension, to minimize the risk of recurrent embolism and prevent mortality. In about 15-20% of cases presenting with clinical instability of variable severity, prompt intravenous thrombolysis with a short-acting compound often represents a life-saving treatment and should be the first-line approach. In normotensive patients with right ventricular dysfunction at echocardiography, who represent about 30% of PE patients, the debate regarding the optimal therapy is still open and further studies are required to document a clinically relevant improvement in the benefit-risk ratio of thrombolytic agents over heparin alone: young people, with a very low risk of bleeding and a concomitant reduction of cardiopulmonary reserve might be the best candidates to systemic thrombolysis. In any case such patients should be admitted to an intensive care unit to monitor the clinical status for at least 48-72 hours and detect signs of possible hemodynamic worsening. Mechanical thrombectomy, either percutaneous or surgical, are ancillary procedures and should be reserved to a minority of highly compromised patients who are unable to receive thrombolysis.
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PMID:Pulmonary embolism: treatment of the acute episode. 1627 Apr 73

Deep-vein thrombosis (DVT) is a common condition that can lead to complications such as postphlebitic syndrome, pulmonary embolism and death. The approach to the diagnosis of DVT has evolved over the years. Currently an algorithm strategy combining pretest probability, D-dimer testing and compression ultrasound imaging allows for safe and convenient investigation of suspected lower-extremity thrombosis. Patients with low pretest probability and a negative D-dimer test result can have proximal DVT excluded without the need for diagnostic imaging. The mainstay of treatment of DVT is anticoagulation therapy, whereas interventions such as thrombolysis and placement of inferior vena cava filters are reserved for special situations. The use of low-molecular-weight heparin allows for outpatient management of most patients with DVT. The duration of anticoagulation therapy depends on whether the primary event was idiopathic or secondary to a transient risk factor. More research is required to optimally define the factors that predict an increased risk of recurrent DVT to determine which patients can benefit from extended anticoagulant therapy.
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PMID:Diagnosis and treatment of deep-vein thrombosis. 1706 Jun 59

Deep-vein thrombosis (DVT) is a common condition that can lead to complications such as postphlebitic syndrome, pulmonary embolism and death. Currently, an algorithm strategy combining pretest probability, D-dimer testing and compression ultrasonography imaging allows for safe and convenient estimation of suspected lower-limb thrombosis. The mainstay of treatment is anticoagulation therapy. The use of low-molecular-weight heparin or pentasaccharide (fondaparinux) allows for outpatient management of most patients with DVT. The duration of anticoagulation depends on whether the primary event was idiopathic or secondary to a transient risk factor. Interventions such as thrombolysis and placement of inferior vena cava filter are reserved for special situations.
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PMID:[Diagnosis and management of deep venous thrombosis]. 1755 15


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