How long does the treatment for pulmonary embolism take?

Written by Wei Shi Liang
Intensive Care Unit
Updated on September 19, 2024
00:00
00:00

The timing of pulmonary embolism treatment mainly depends on the severity of the pulmonary embolism. The main goals of pulmonary embolism treatment are to save lives by addressing life-threatening right heart dysfunction and obstructive shock caused by the pulmonary embolism, to re-establish pulmonary vascular patency, restore lung tissue perfusion, and prevent the recurrence of pulmonary embolism. Main treatment methods include: respiratory and circulatory support, anticoagulation, thrombolysis, interventional or surgical removal of blood clots, placement of inferior vena cava filters, etc. General management: Patients who are highly suspected or diagnosed with pulmonary embolism should be closely monitored, tracking changes in respiration, heart rate, blood pressure, venous pressure, electrocardiogram, and blood gases to prevent the dislodgement of clots again. Absolute bed rest is required, and care should be taken not to overly bend the lower limbs, maintain bowel regularity, and avoid straining. For patients experiencing anxiety and panic symptoms, reassurance should be provided, along with appropriate use of sedatives. If there is chest pain, analgesics may be administered. For symptoms like fever and cough, corresponding symptomatic treatments should be given. To prevent lung infections and treat phlebitis, antibiotics may be used. Additionally, support treatments for respiratory and circulatory functions, as well as anticoagulation therapy, should be provided.

Other Voices

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Wang Li Bing
Intensive Care Medicine Department
58sec home-news-image

The most common symptoms of pulmonary embolism.

Pulmonary embolism is also relatively common in clinical practice, primarily caused by an embolus blocking the pulmonary artery system, leading to a group of clinical syndromes. The clinical manifestations of pulmonary embolism mainly include the following points: The first is that patients may experience unexplained difficulty breathing and shortness of breath, especially after activity. The second is that patients experience significant chest pain. The third may be accompanied by hemoptysis, but usually, the amount of blood expectorated is not large. The fourth is that patients may experience restlessness, panic, and even a sense of impending doom. Clinically, there sometimes appears the so-called triad, which includes simultaneous occurrence of difficulty breathing, chest pain, and hemoptysis, etc. Pulmonary embolism is primarily diagnosed clinically through pulmonary artery CT.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Wang Li Bing
Intensive Care Medicine Department
45sec home-news-image

What are the precursors of pulmonary embolism?

Pulmonary embolism is also relatively common in clinical practice. Its precursors may include varying degrees of respiratory difficulty, chest tightness, and shortness of breath, among others. If such symptoms occur, medical attention should be sought promptly, primarily to rule out the possibility of acute myocardial infarction. Pulmonary artery CTA can further confirm whether there is a pulmonary embolism. In cases of extensive pulmonary embolism, there is a high risk of sudden death, and aggressive thrombolytic and anticoagulation treatments should be administered. If the patient's chest tightness and shortness of breath are relieved after the aforementioned treatments, hospitalization for observation and treatment is still necessary.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Yuan Qing
Pulmonology
1min 4sec home-news-image

What are the symptoms when pulmonary embolism becomes severe?

Pulmonary embolism can vary in severity, with serious cases primarily causing unstable vital signs. The disease primarily arises from venous thrombi in the venous system, which travel with the venous blood back to the right heart, and then with the blood flow from the right heart back to the aorta. If the thrombus is relatively large, it can easily become lodged in the pulmonary artery, forming a pulmonary embolism. The symptoms of pulmonary embolism can range from mild to severe. Based on the patient's symptoms and vital signs, pulmonary embolism is categorized into low risk, intermediate risk, and high risk. Low and intermediate risk typically indicate that the patient's vital signs are relatively stable, with normal blood pressure, heart rate, and pulse oximetry saturation. In severe cases, patients may exhibit noticeable symptoms such as coughing up blood, difficulty breathing, low blood pressure, shock, and oliguria. These represent the more severe cases of pulmonary embolism.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Yuan Qing
Pulmonology
58sec home-news-image

Is it good to place a filter for pulmonary embolism or not?

Whether it is good or not to place a filter for pulmonary embolism mainly depends on the cause of the pulmonary embolism and whether there are indications for placing a filter. Generally speaking, if pulmonary embolism is caused by the formation of blood clots in the lower limbs or the inferior vena cava, placing a filter can generally be beneficial. However, not all cases of lower limb venous thrombosis require a filter. Filters are usually only used for deep or large vein thromboses that are not suitable for thrombectomy or thrombolysis treatments. If a filter is placed under other conditions, it is very likely that thrombosis will re-form on the surface of the filter, potentially leading to some recurrent pulmonary embolisms or iatrogenic pulmonary embolisms. Therefore, the decision to place a filter is complex and requires a doctor to weigh the pros and cons before deciding whether or not to proceed.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Wei Shi Liang
Intensive Care Unit
54sec home-news-image

Can pulmonary embolism lead to pneumonia?

Pulmonary embolism itself does not cause pneumonia; however, during the treatment of pulmonary embolism, procedures such as oral tracheal intubation and the creation of an artificial airway might be employed. These can lead to nosocomial infections of iatrogenic origin, resulting in pneumonia. Pulmonary embolism often manifests as unexplained respiratory difficulty, pleuritic pain, tachycardia, and decreased oxygen saturation. Other high-risk factors include being over the age of 40, having a history of DVT (Deep Vein Thrombosis), obesity, prolonged immobilization, stroke, congestive heart failure, malignancy, lower limb fracture, anesthesia time exceeding 30 minutes during surgery, pregnancy and childbirth, use of estrogen, and a hypercoagulable state. These are all potential high-risk factors for pulmonary embolism.