Journal
CLINICAL AND APPLIED THROMBOSIS-HEMOSTASIS
Volume 18, Issue 1, Pages 20-26Publisher
SAGE PUBLICATIONS INC
DOI: 10.1177/1076029611422363
Keywords
pulmonary embolism; deep venous thrombosis; anticoagulant therapy
Categories
Ask authors/readers for more resources
We assessed the potential safety of withholding treatment of pulmonary embolism (PE) limited to subsegmental branches. Literature review showed that untreated patients with mostly subsegmental PE had no fatal recurrences in 1 to 3 months and no nonfatal recurrences of PE in 3 months. Patients with suspected PE who had nondiagnostic ventilation/perfusion lung scans, adequate cardiorespiratory reserve or low or moderate clinical probability, and negative serial noninvasive leg tests were shown not to require treatment. It appears safe, therefore, to withhold treatment of subsegmental PE providing (1) pulmonary-respiratory reserve is good; (2) no evidence of deep venous thrombosis (DVT) on serial testing; (3) major risk factor for PE was transient and no longer present; (4) no history of central venous catheterization or atrial fibrillation; and (5) willingness to return for serial venous ultrasound. After fully informing patients, some may choose to be treated and some may choose not to be treated.
Authors
I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.
Reviews
Recommended
No Data Available