Arq. Bras. Cardiol. 2022; 118(1): 75-76
Thrombolysis in Pulmonary Embolism: Octagenarians Deserve More Attention!
This Short Editorial is referred by the Research article "Thrombolytic Therapy in Octogenarians with Acute Pulmonary Embolism".
Pulmonary embolism (PE) is a common cardiovascular disease that may be life threatening, and its incidence increases with age. It is the third most common cause of cardiovascular mortality and is also responsible for 100,000 to 180,000 deaths per year. Right-sided heart failure and recurrences are the main causes of death associated with PE. Most deaths occur within the first hour of patients presenting hemodynamic instability. Therefore, the prognostic of those patients depends on rapid treatment.,
To determine a suitable therapeutic management approach in patients with PE, the appropriate risk stratification is decisive in order to begin effective treatment as early as possible and to prevent death. Thus, patients at a low-risk of mortality may be candidates for home anticoagulant treatment or early hospital discharge. Patients at intermediate risk may require antithrombotic therapy and close clinical observation to escalate the treatment regime in case of clinical impairment, whereas patients at high-risk should proceed to prompt revascularization either by pharmacologic or percutaneous catheter-directed or surgical treatment.
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