title: [Aggressive treatment of acute pulmonary embolism. 132 consecutive patients treated with heparin, streptokinase or embolectomy, 1975-1987].
abstract: During 1975-1987, 132 patients were treated for acute pulmonary embolism with heparin (n = 41), streptokinase (n = 52), or embolectomy (n = 39). In 1984, the indications for embolectomy were broadened to include all patients with central emboli, also those who were circulatory stable. The heparin-, streptokinase-, and embolectomy groups differed from each other as regards the degree of circulatory impairment (stable circulation/reversible shock/circulatory collapse: 68/32/0% versus 52/48/0% versus 16/56/28%, p less than 0.0001) and embolic score (20 for complete obstruction; 5.6 +/- 3.4 versus 8.7 +/- 2.8 versus 13.2 +/- 2.4, p less than 0.0001), but were comparable in terms of prognosis (30-day mortality/10-year survival +/- standard error: 7%/61 +/- 9% versus 13%/59 +/- 9% versus 18%/61 +/- 10%). Stable circulation, reversible shock, and circulatory collapse prior to embolectomy resulted in 30-day mortalities of 0%, 9%, and 45% respectively (p less than 0.01). During 1984-1987, no early or late deaths after embolectomy were observed in patients without circulatory collapse (n = 10). In comparable patients (embolic score greater than or equal to 9, symptom duration less than or equal to 7 days, no circulatory collapse), streptokinase treatment (n = 13) and embolectomy (n = 25) resulted in 10-year survival +/- standard error of 46 +/- 16% and 82 +/- 10% respectively (p less than 0.0001) and in an embolic score-reduction (score before minus score after treatment) of 5.7 +/- 2.3 and 10.5 +/- 2.9, respectively (p less than 0.0001). Embolectomy during extracorporeal circulation should be considered the treatment-of-choice in patients with acute central emboli.
authors.affiliation: Hjerte-lunge-karkirurgisk afdeling, Skejby Sygehus, Arhus.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hedegaard
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Lund
authors.forename: T T
authors.initials: TT
authors.lastname: Nielsen
authors.forename: H H
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Hansen
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Albrechtsen
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006493:Heparin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D011379:Prognosis; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D012769:Shock / Q000401:mortality / Q000503:physiopathology; D013300:Streptokinase / Q000008:administration & dosage*
chemical_list: D006493:Heparin; D013300:Streptokinase
vernacular_title: Aggressiv behandling af akut lungeemboli. 132 konsekutive patienter behandlet med heparin, streptokinase eller embolektomi, 1975 til 1987.