Early prescription of direct oral anticoagulants for acute intermediate-high risk pulmonary embolism

The management of patients with acute pulmonary embolism is made challenging by its wide spectrum of clinical presentation and outcome, which is mainly related to patient haemodynamic status and right ventricular overload. Mechanical embolic obstruction and neurohumorally mediated pulmonary vasoconstriction are responsible for right ventricular overload. The pathophysiology of acute pulmonary embolism is the basis for risk stratification of patients as being at high, intermediate and low risk of adverse outcomes. This risk stratification has been advocated to tailor clinical management according to the severity of pulmonary embolism.Anticoagulation is the mainstay of the treatment of acute pulmonary embolism. New direct oral anticoagulants, which are easier to use than conventional anticoagulants, have been compared with conventional anticoagulation in five randomised clinical trials including >11 000 patients with pulmonary embolism. Patients at high risk of pulmonary embolism (those with haemodynamic compromise) were excluded from these studies. Direct oral anticoagulants have been shown to be as effective and at least as safe as conventional anticoagulation in patients with pulmonary embolism without haemodynamic compromise, who are the majority of patients with this disease. Whether these agents are appropriate for the acute-phase treatment of patients at intermediate–high risk pulmonary embolism (those with both right ventricle dysfunction and injury) regardless of any risk stratification remains undefined.

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Role of rehabilitation in prevention of early thromboembolic complications in hemorrhagic stroke

Balneo Research Journal ◽

10.12680/balneo.2019.274 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 10 (Vol.10, No.3) ◽

pp. 311-316

Author(s):

Ioana C. STANESCU ◽

Angelo BULBOACA ◽

Dana Marieta FODOR ◽

Camelia Diana OBER ◽

Gabriel GUSETU ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Pulmonary Embolism ◽

High Risk ◽

Hemorrhagic Stroke ◽

Oral Anticoagulants ◽

Direct Oral Anticoagulants ◽

Intermittent Pneumatic Compression ◽

Rehabilitation Program ◽

Risk Patients ◽

Life Threatening ◽

Diabetes And Obesity

Hemorrhagic strokes (ICH) affects mainly young active people, with increasing incidence in developing countries. Mortality is high in acute phase, and patients are prone to complications related to stroke itself and to coexisting medical conditions. Patients with ICH are at high risk in developing deep venous thrombosis (DVT) with secondary pulmonary embolism (PE). Prevention of venous thrombotic events in hemorrhagic stroke patients requires intermittent pneumatic compression and preventive doses of low molecular weight heparins (LMWH) in high-risk patients. If DVT and /or PE occurs, the therapeutic management should balance the risk of recurrent cerebral bleeding and the life-threatening risk of PE, making the decision to start anticoagulation challenging. We present a case of a young patient with a large hypertensive capsulo-lenticular hemorrhage, who was diagnosed with pulmonary embolism 21 days after stroke onset. The decision was for anticoagulant treatment initial with LWMH, and switch to direct oral anticoagulants (DOAC) after 10 days; strict control of vascular risk factors of the patients (hypertension, diabetes and obesity) was achieved. Rehabilitation treatment, delayed until day 21, was recommended with progressive intensity. Evolution of the patient was favorable, with complete hematoma resorbtion under DOAC treatment at 10 weeks follow-up and important motor recovery. Rehabilitation program was intensive during this interval, and strongly contributive to neurologic improvement.

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