Interv Akut Kardiol. 2024;23(2-3):64-68 | DOI: 10.36290/kar.2024.020

Pulmonary embolism: prophylaxis, diagnosis, acute therapy

Martin Radvan, Martin Kameník

Interní kardiologická klinika, Fakultní nemocnice Brno a Lékařská fakulta Masarykovy univerzity, Brno

Pulmonary embolism is the third most common cardiovascular reason for death after myocardial infarction and stroke. The principles of thromboembolic disease prophylaxis are an integral part of care in both surgical and internal medicine. The severity of pulmonary embolism ranges across the spectrum, from completely asymptomatic forms to obstructive shock, where the first and only symptom is sudden death. The mainstay of treatment for low- and intermediate-risk patients is anticoagulation therapy. For high-risk patients, effective thrombolytic therapy is available, but it has a number of contraindications and, even if these are respected, carries a risk of bleeding, including fatal. Until recently, the only alternative, cardiosurgical embolectomy, is now being replaced by widening spectrum of cathetrization techniques.

Keywords: plicní embolie, profylaxe, katetrizační léčba, trombolýza.

Received: October 29, 2024; Accepted: October 29, 2024; Published: December 12, 2024  Show citation