What is a pulmonary embolism?
Blocked blood vessel in the lungs
What are the risk factors for PE?
Inactivity/immobile Recent surgery Pregnancy Previous VTE COCP Long haul travel Cancer Heart failure Obesity HRT Family history
How does PE present?
Dyspnoea Pleuritic chest pain Tachypnoea Cough Haemoptysis Unilateral leg pain Rales/decreased breath sounds
What investigations are carried out?
ABG CXR ECG - S1, Q3, T3 D-dimer CTPA
What is the management for PE?
ABCDE O2 if hypoxic Analgesia SC LMWH whilst awaiting CTPA Thrombolysis (alteplase) - massive PE Apixaban - non-massive PE
What are the complications of PE?
Sudden cardiac death Obstructive shock Pulmonary infarction Pleural effusion Pulmonary hypertension Cor pulmonale
What scoring system is used to determine how likely a PE is?
WELLS score
What is a massive PE?
Haemodynamically unstable - systolic <90 for 15 mins
What are the contraindications for alteplase?
Active bleeding
Known intracranial tumour
Risk of aortic dissection