Is Thrombolytic Therapy Safe after CPR for Patients with Pulmonary Embolism?

Abstract

Pulmonary embolism (PE) is a life threatening emergency condition. PE is considered in suspected patients referring due to syncope or shock. Trombolytic treatment may be started for the patients with higher risk for PE according to transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) results. An eighty-year old female patient was taken to the emergency service at an unconscious state by her relatives. No pulse was detected in the first assessment. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) was started. Return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) was achieved at 15th minute of the CPR. TTE revealed dilation in the right ventricle and lower pressure in the left ventricle. There as not any risk factor for pulmonary embolism in preliminary diagnosis. The unstable patient was referred to CT angiography with emergency medicine physician. An image consistent with embolism in both branches of the pulmonary artery was detected in CT angiography and trombolytic treament was started. The patient was admitted to intensive care unit of the emergency service. Thrombolytic treatment may be implemented for high-risk patients for PE and in the patients who achieved return of spontaneous circulation after cardiac arrest. Furthermore, such interventions were detected to be life saving.

Keywords

• pulmonary embolism,, bedside transthoracic echocardiography,thrombolytic therapy

References

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