Epidemiology, diagnosis, and therapy of pulmonary embolism.
Pulmonary embolism is a frequently observed clinical symptom. Its mortality rate is ca. 10 % und occurs mainly in the acute phasis. Immobilization, surgery, old age, malignancies, hormonal factors as well as inherited or acquired thrombophilia are important risk factors. Spiral computed tomography and ventilation-perfusion-scintigraphy are the decisive imaging methods. Pulmonary angiography is still the gold standard. The risk of pulmonary embolism could be lowered by 50 % through prophylaxis with unfractioned or low-molecular-weight heparin. The therapy of pulmonary embolism stratifies the clinical grade and reaches from ambulant therapy with low-molecular-weight heparin to thrombolysis or embolectomy in massive pulmonary embolism. Long-term anticoagulation, usually with vitamin-K-antagonists, should be applied according to the individual risk profile of the patient.
Pforte
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Medizinische Klinik I, Bereich Pneumologie, Universitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany. almuth.pforte@t-online.de
D000792:Angiography; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004452:Echocardiography; D017128:Embolectomy; D005544:Forecasting; D006493:Heparin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D036542:Tomography, Spiral Computed
D000925:Anticoagulants; D006493:Heparin