title: Treatment of acute massive/submassive pulmonary embolism.
abstract: Thirty-five consecutive patients with massive and submassive pulmonary embolism (PE) were reviewed. In 75% of these cases, PE could be suspected on the basis of electrocardiogram alone. Echocardiography was quite useful for diagnosing PE and assessing right ventricle after-load at the bedside. Spiral computer tomography was effective for obtaining a definitive diagnosis even in a relatively hemodynamically unstable patient. Thrombolysis therapy was given to 30 cases and was apparently effective in 17 cases (17/30, 56.7%). Percutaneous cardiopulmonary support (PCPS) was needed for 7 severe cases. Seven patients, including 5 of the PCPS recipients, underwent surgical embolectomy. Overall mortality was 28.6% (10/35), and surgical mortality was 28.6% (2/7). The significant predictors for mortality were systolic blood pressure <100 mmHg, dopamine >5 microg x kg(-1) min(-1), pH <7.4, PaCO2 >40 torr, base excesss <-5 mmol/L, urine output <0.8ml x kg(-1) x h(-1), intubation, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, duration from attack to emergency room >5h, shock duration >4h, aspartate aminotransferase >100U/L, alanine aminotransferase >100U/L and lactate dehydrogenase >600U/L. Predictors of surgical intervention were dopamine >5 microg x kg(-1) min(-1), shock duration >4h and PCPS. Early initiation of thombolysis therapy is recommended, except in case where it is absolutely contraindicated. Because it is difficult in the early phase of PE to make a decision to perform surgery, aggressive application of PCPS is recommended for the cardiogenic shock associated with massive PE.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Kurume University School of Medicine, Japan. eiki@med.kurume-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: Eiki
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Tayama
authors.forename: Masanao
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ouchida
authors.forename: Hideki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Teshima
authors.forename: Toru
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Takaseya
authors.forename: Ryouichi
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hiratsuka
authors.forename: Koji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Akasu
authors.forename: Nobuhiko
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hayashida
authors.forename: Shuji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fukunaga
authors.forename: Hidetoshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Akashi
authors.forename: Takemi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kawara
authors.forename: Shigeaki
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Aoyagi
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004452:Echocardiography; D004562:Electrocardiography; D017128:Embolectomy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D015912:Thrombolytic Therapy; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed