How Do You Treat A Pulmonary Embolism?
A pulmonary embolism is a blockage of the pulmonary arteries, usually by a blood clot. It is a common postoperative occurrence in patients who are confined to bed. A pulmonary embolism often goes undiagnosed because the symptoms tend to be nonspecific. The mortality rate is 10 percent within the first hour, and 30 percent of the surviving patients will die from a subsequent episode. Here’s how to treat a pulmonary embolism. Induce full anticoagulation measures immediately in any patient suspected of having a pulmonary embolism. Anticoagulant therapy should not be delayed while the diagnostic investigations are being made. Begin anticoagulation with intravenous heparin. Heparin will not dissolve an existing clot but will prevent additional emboli from forming. The patient also should be started on oral warfarin. Once the therapeutic dosage of warfarin has been established, heparin therapy may be discontinued. Administer thrombolytic agents to dissolve existing clots in some high-risk pa
