: Computed Tomographic Pulmonary Angiography ( CTPA ) is the gold standard for confirmation. Ventilation-perfusion (
Treatment strategies are dictated by the patient's hemodynamic stability and risk category.
: 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
Patients with a first episode of unprovoked PE usually require anticoagulation for at least 3 to 6 months. Extended therapy may be necessary if persistent risk factors exist. Long-term monitoring is essential to detect rare complications like , which can present as persistent breathlessness months after the initial event.
The development of PE is governed by , which consists of venous stasis, endothelial injury, and a hypercoagulable state. : Computed Tomographic Pulmonary Angiography ( CTPA )
Acute Pulmonary Embolism (PE) is a critical cardiovascular emergency characterized by the sudden obstruction of a pulmonary artery, typically by a blood clot originating from deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in the lower limbs. As a leading cause of in-hospital mortality, its management requires rapid risk stratification and adherence to standardized clinical guidelines. Pathophysiology and Etiology
: When thrombolysis is contraindicated or fails, options include catheter-directed thrombectomy or surgical embolectomy. Prognosis and Follow-Up The PERC (Pulmonary Embolism Rule-out Criteria) is used
: For high-risk (hemodynamically unstable) patients, systemic thrombolysis (e.g., Alteplase) is recommended to rapidly dissolve the clot.