Pulmonary embolism following anticoagulation therapy.
Five patients with traumatic spinal injury received a course of oral anticoagulant therapy with warfarin, heparin, or phenindione for 90 days following injury. These patients, on discontinuation of anticoagulant therapy, developed pulmonary embolus; two of these were confirmed by ventilation perfusion lung scintigraphy, and two were confirmed at post-mortem. The reasons for this are discussed, in particular the importance of delayed anticoagulation, obesity, operations, and mobilization in wheelchairs. The implications for further treatment are discussed.
National Spinal Injuries Centre, Stoke Mandeville Hospital.
J R
JR
Silver
Z
Z
Noori
D000328:Adult; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006493:Heparin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010630:Phenindione / Q000008:administration & dosage; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000209:etiology*; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000150:complications*; D014859:Warfarin / Q000008:administration & dosage
D000925:Anticoagulants; D010630:Phenindione; D014859:Warfarin; D006493:Heparin