Riccardo Ripamonti, Pulmonology Department, Fondazione IRCCS “San Gerardo dei Tintori”, Monza, Italy
Giuseppe Paciocco, Pulmonology Department, Fondazione IRCCS “San Gerardo dei Tintori”, Monza, Italy
Pulmonary embolism is a potentially life-threatening condition requiring prompt diagnosis and treatment. Despite the clear guidelines, this disease still represents a great challenge in both diagnosis and treatment in hemodynamically stable patients, especially with signs of right ventricular dysfunction proven by echocardiography and/or positive biomarker values (pulmonary embolism of intermediate–high risk). The heterogeneous clinical picture, often without pathognomonic signs and symptoms, represents a huge problem even for experienced doctors. Recent advances have led to the development of newer techniques and drugs aimed at improving pulmonary embolism management, reducing its associated morbidity and mortality, and the complications related to anticoagulation. The latest recommendations give preference to new oral anticoagulants compared to vitamin K antagonists, except for certain categories of patients (patients with antiphospholipid syndrome, mechanical valves, pregnancy). This review provides an overview of hemodynamically stable pulmonary embolism management and treatment.
Keywords: Anticoagulation. Pulmonary embolism. VTE.
