The usefulness of anticoagulation in patients with suspected non-massive pulmonary embolism (PE) is uncertain. We recently published a decision analysis model suggesting a benefit for preemptive anticoagulation in patients with an intermediate or high probability of PE, even with short diagnostic delays (0-3 h). In case of a low probability of PE, the decision to treat or not could partly rely on the expected diagnostic delay. Once the diagnosis is confirmed, achieving rapidly therapeutic anticoagulation levels decreases future thrombotic complications.
M Blondon, G Le Gal, D Aujesky, M Righini, and A Perrier.
Service de Médecine Interne Générale, Départment de Médicine Interne, Réhabilitation et Gériatrie, HUG 1211, Genève. marc.blondon@hcuge.ch
Rev Med Suisse. 2013 Feb 6;9(372):306-8, 310.
AbstractThe usefulness of anticoagulation in patients with suspected non-massive pulmonary embolism (PE) is uncertain. We recently published a decision analysis model suggesting a benefit for preemptive anticoagulation in patients with an intermediate or high probability of PE, even with short diagnostic delays (0-3 h). In case of a low probability of PE, the decision to treat or not could partly rely on the expected diagnostic delay. Once the diagnosis is confirmed, achieving rapidly therapeutic anticoagulation levels decreases future thrombotic complications.