Diagnosis is often challenging because symptoms like dyspnea and chest pain are non-specific.
The development of PE is governed by , which consists of venous stasis, endothelial injury, and a hypercoagulable state.
: Tools such as the Wells Score or Geneva Score assess pre-test probability. The PERC (Pulmonary Embolism Rule-out Criteria) is used to safely exclude PE in low-risk patients without further testing. Download Embolie pulmonaire aiguГ« pdf
: The mainstay for most patients. Low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) is often preferred over unfractionated heparin (UFH) for initial treatment. Long-term management typically involves Direct Oral Anticoagulants (DOACs) like apixaban or rivaroxaban.
: Once a clot lodges in the pulmonary vascular bed, it increases pulmonary vascular resistance, which can lead to acute right ventricular (RV) failure and hemodynamic collapse. Diagnosis is often challenging because symptoms like dyspnea
: Computed Tomographic Pulmonary Angiography ( CTPA ) is the gold standard for confirmation. Ventilation-perfusion (
: Obstruction causes a ventilation-to-perfusion ( ) mismatch, leading to hypoxemia and respiratory distress. Diagnostic Framework The PERC (Pulmonary Embolism Rule-out Criteria) is used
: When thrombolysis is contraindicated or fails, options include catheter-directed thrombectomy or surgical embolectomy. Prognosis and Follow-Up