Connecticut medicine
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Connecticut medicine · Jun 2006
Combined thrombolysis and inferior vena caval interruption as a therapeutic approach to massive and submassive pulmonary embolism.
Massive and a submassive pulmonary embolism (PE) is a life-threatening emergency. This condition is usually treated urgently with measures to attain hemodynamic stability and anticoagulation. In selected subjects, thrombolysis, inferior vena caval interruption and embolectomy have been used. We report a consecutive case series of subjects with massive and submassive pulmonary embolism treated with both inferior vena caval interruption and thrombolysis. ⋯ The combination of inferior vena caval interruption and thrombolysis seems safe and effective for the treatment of PE. This modality was not associated with mortality in any of our patients. The only complication encountered was bleeding primarily at the sites of vascular access. We conclude that combined vena caval interruption and thrombolysis is a safe means of treating potentially life-threatening pulmonary embolism.
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Connecticut medicine · Jun 2006
The significance of parapneumonic pleural effusions developing during antibiotic treatment for pneumonia.
There are little data regarding the outcomes of parapneumonic pleural effusions that first appear during antibiotic treatment of the underlying pneumonia. ⋯ Patients with pneumonia who develop a parapneumonic effusion while receiving antibiotic therapy are unlikely to develop empyema or a complicated effusion requiring drainage.