Non-thrombotic PE does not represent a distinct clinical syndrome. It may be due to a variety of embolic materials and result in a wide spectrum of clinical presentations, making the diagnosis difficult. With the exception of severe air and fat embolism, the haemodynamic consequences of non-thrombotic emboli are usually mild. Treatment is mostly supportive but may differ according to the type of embolic material and clinical severity.

/pdf/guidelines-on-the-diagnosis-and-management-of-acute-1usqw9xdub.pdf

Guidelines on the Diagnosis and Management of Acute Pulmonary Embolism: The Task Force for the Diagnosis and Management of Acute Pulmonary Embolism of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC)

ACS
: acute coronary syndrome
AMPLIFY
: Apixaban for the Initial Management of Pulmonary Embolism and Deep-Vein Thrombosis as First-line Therapy
aPTT
: activated partial thromboplastin time
b.i.d.
: bis in diem (twice daily)
b.p.m.
: beats per minute
BNP
: brain natriuretic peptide
BP
: blood pressure
CI
: confidence interval
CO
: cardiac output
COPD
: chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
CPG
: Committee for Practice Guidelines
CRNM
: clinically relevant non-major
CT
: computed tomographic/tomogram
CTEPH
: chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension
CUS
: compression venous ultrasonography
DSA
: digital subtraction angiography
DVT
: deep vein thrombosis
ELISA
: enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay
ESC
: European Society of Cardiology
H-FABP
: heart-type fatty acid-binding protein
HIT
: heparin-induced thrombocytopenia
HR
: hazard ratio
ICOPER
: International Cooperative Pulmonary Embolism Registry
ICRP
: International Commission on Radiological Protection
INR
: international normalized ratio
iPAH
: idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension
IVC
: inferior vena cava
LMWH
: low molecular weight heparin
LV
: left ventricle/left ventricular
MDCT
: multi-detector computed tomographic (angiography)
MRA
: magnetic resonance angiography
NGAL
: neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin
NOAC(s)
: Non-vitamin K-dependent new oral anticoagulant(s)
NT-proBNP
: N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide
o.d.
: omni die (every day)
OR
: odds ratio
PAH
: pulmonary arterial hypertension
PE
: pulmonary embolism
PEA
: pulmonary endarterectomy
PEITHO
: Pulmonary EmbolIsm THrOmbolysis trial
PESI
: pulmonary embolism severity index
PH
: pulmonary hypertension
PIOPED
: Prospective Investigation On Pulmonary Embolism Diagnosis
PVR
: pulmonary vascular resistance
RIETE
: Registro Informatizado de la Enfermedad Thromboembolica venosa
RR
: relative risk
rtPA
: recombinant tissue plasminogen activator
RV
: right ventricle/ventricular
SPECT
: single photon emission computed tomography
sPESI
: simplified pulmonary embolism severity index
TAPSE
: tricuspid annulus plane systolic excursion
Tc
: technetium
TOE
: transoesophageal echocardiography
TTR
: time in therapeutic range
TV
: tricuspid valve
UFH
: unfractionated heparin
V/Q scan
: ventilation–perfusion scintigraphy
VKA
: vitamin K antagonist(s)
VTE
: venous thromboembolism

Guidelines summarize and evaluate all available evidence at the time of the writing process, on a particular issue with the aim of assisting health professionals in selecting the best management strategies for an individual patient, with a given condition, taking into account the impact on outcome, as well as the risk-benefit-ratio of particular diagnostic or therapeutic means. Guidelines and recommendations should help the health professionals to make decisions in their daily practice. However, the final decisions concerning an individual patient must be made by the responsible health professional(s) in consultation with the patient and caregiver as appropriate.

A great number of Guidelines have …

/pdf/2014-esc-guidelines-on-the-diagnosis-and-management-of-acute-1f9ulv0b8w.pdf

2014 ESC Guidelines on the diagnosis and management of acute pulmonary embolism

Guidelines summarize and evaluate available evidence with the aim of assisting health professionals in proposing the best management strategies for an individual patient with a given condition. Guidelines and their recommendations should facilitate decision making of health professionals in their daily practice. However, the final decisions concerning an individual patient must be made by the responsible health professional(s) in consultation with the patient and caregiver as appropriate.

/pdf/2019-esc-guidelines-for-the-diagnosis-and-management-of-4aacwvv1mo.pdf

2019 ESC Guidelines for the diagnosis and management of acute pulmonary embolism developed in collaboration with the European respiratory society (ERS)

New @ESCardio Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Management of Acute #PulmonaryEmbolism developed in collaboration with @EuroRespSoc now available: #cardiotwitter @erspublicationshttp://bit.ly/2HnrJaj

https://erj.ersjournals.com/content/erj/early/2019/08/29/13993003.01647-2019.full.pdf

2019 ESC Guidelines for the diagnosis and management of acute pulmonary embolism developed in collaboration with the European Respiratory Society (ERS) : The Task Force for the diagnosis and management of acute pulmonary embolism of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC)

Pulmonary embolism (PE) can only be diagnosed with imaging techniques, which in practice is performed using ventilation/perfusion scintigraphy (V/P(SCAN)) or multidetector computed tomography of the pulmonary arteries (MDCT). The epidemiology, natural history, pathophysiology and clinical presentation of PE are briefly reviewed. The primary objective of Part 1 of the Task Group's report was to develop a methodological approach to and interpretation criteria for PE. The basic principle for the diagnosis of PE based upon V/P(SCAN) is to recognize lung segments or subsegments without perfusion but preserved ventilation, i.e. mismatch. Ventilation studies are in general performed after inhalation of Krypton or technetium-labelled aerosol of diethylene triamine pentaacetic acid (DTPA) or Technegas. Perfusion studies are performed after intravenous injection of macroaggregated human albumin. Radiation exposure using documented isotope doses is 1.2-2 mSv. Planar and tomographic techniques (V/P(PLANAR) and V/P(SPECT)) are analysed. V/P(SPECT) has higher sensitivity and specificity than V/P(PLANAR). The interpretation of either V/P(PLANAR) or V/P(SPECT) should follow holistic principles rather than obsolete probabilistic rules. PE should be reported when mismatch of more than one subsegment is found. For the diagnosis of chronic PE, V/P(SCAN) is of value. The additional diagnostic yield from V/P(SCAN) includes chronic obstructive lung disease (COPD), heart failure and pneumonia. Pitfalls in V/P(SCAN) interpretation are considered. V/P(SPECT) is strongly preferred to V/P(PLANAR) as the former permits the accurate diagnosis of PE even in the presence of comorbid diseases such as COPD and pneumonia. Technegas is preferred to DTPA in patients with COPD.

/pdf/eanm-guidelines-for-ventilation-perfusion-scintigraphy-part-34blj2pcct.pdf

EANM guidelines for ventilation/perfusion scintigraphy : Part 1. Pulmonary imaging with ventilation/perfusion single photon emission tomography.

Planar pulmonary scintigraphy is still regularly performed for the evaluation of pulmonary embolism (PE). However, only about 50-80% of cases can be resolved by this approach. This study evaluates the ability of tomographic acquisition (single photon emission computed tomography, SPECT) of the perfusion scan to improve the radionuclide diagnosis of PE. One hundred and fourteen consecutive patients with a suspicion of PE underwent planar and SPECT lung perfusion scans as well as planar ventilation scans. The final diagnosis was obtained by using an algorithm, including D-dimer measurement, leg ultrasonography, a V/Q scan and chest spiral computed tomography, as well as the patient outcome. A planar perfusion scan was considered positive for PE in the presence of one or more wedge shaped defect, while SPECT was considered positive with one or more wedge shaped defect with sharp borders, three-plane visualization, whatever the photopenia. A definite diagnosis was achieved in 70 patients. After exclusion of four 'non-diagnostic' SPECT images, the prevalence of PE was 23% (n =15). Intraobserver and interobserver reproducibilities were 91%/94% and 79%/88% for planar/SPECT images, respectively. The sensitivities for PE diagnosis were similar for planar and SPECT perfusion scans (80%), whereas SPECT had a higher specificity (96% vs 78%; P =0.01). SPECT correctly classified 8/9 intermediate and 31/32 low probability V/Q scans as negative. It is concluded that lung perfusion SPECT is readily performed and reproducible. A negative study eliminates the need for a combined V/Q study and most of the 'non-diagnostic' V/Q probabilities can be solved with a perfusion image obtained by using tomography.

Is a lung perfusion scan obtained by using single photon emission computed tomography able to improve the radionuclide diagnosis of pulmonary embolism

AIMS: The aim of the study was to describe the epidemiology, management and cost of emergency department (ED) visits due to alcohol intoxication. METHODS: A retrospective review of medical records of all episodes of alcohol intoxication was made, excepting those where another diagnosis such as trauma or psychiatric illness was primary, in patients older than 16 years, who presented to the ED of a large university hospital in Belgium over a 12-month period from 1 January 2009. RESULTS: A total of 635 such patients accounted for 1.2% of all ED visits; 429 were males and 48.3% were aged between 41 and 60 years; 63.8% of the patients had a history of alcohol use disorder and 60.3% had a history of psychiatric disorder; 74.3% of the patients received some form of medical treatment and 62% were seen by a psychiatrist. Of the total, 57.5% of the patients were admitted to the ED observation ward, with a mean length of stay of 8.4 h. The estimated total cost was €318 838.25, with an average of €541.32 per patient. CONCLUSION: Alcohol intoxication leads to a financial burden on the community. In addition to imposing physical, social and psychological stress on the community, the often agitated or aggressive patient imposes stress on ED staff. Close surveillance of trends in alcohol abuse is warranted, and the ED should consider implementing a questionnaire method of screening for alcohol abuse. Language: en

Emergency Department Visits Due to Alcohol Intoxication: Characteristics of Patients and Impact on the Emergency Room

Aims: The aim of the study was to describe the epidemiology, management and cost of emergency department (ED) visits due to alcohol intoxication. Methods: A retrospective review of medical records of all episodes of alcohol intoxication was made, excepting those where another diagnosis such as trauma or psychiatric illness was primary, in patients older than 16 years, who presented to the ED of a large university hospital in Belgium over a 12-month period from 1 January 2009. Results: A total of 635 such patients accounted for 1.2% of all ED visits; 429 were males and 48.3% were aged between 41 and 60 years; 63.8% of the patients had a history of alcohol use disorder and 60.3% had a history of psychiatric disorder; 74.3% of the patients received some form of medical treatment and 62% were seen by a psychiatrist. Of the total, 57.5% of the patients were admitted to the ED observa- tion ward, with a mean length of stay of 8.4 h. The estimated total cost was €318 838.25, with an average of €541.32 per patient. Conclusion: Alcohol intoxication leads to a financial burden on the community. In addition to imposing physical, social and psycho- logical stress on the community, the often agitated or aggressive patient imposes stress on ED staff. Close surveillance of trends in alcohol abuse is warranted, and the ED should consider implementing a questionnaire method of screening for alcohol abuse.

CLINICAL ASPECTS Emergency Department Visits Due to Alcohol Intoxication: Characteristics of Patients and Impact on the Emergency Room

https://www.annemergmed.com/article/S0196-0644(13)00406-X/pdf

Impact of temperature exposure on stability of drugs in a real-world out-of-hospital setting.

OBJECTIVE To determine the proportion of hip-fracture patients with admission hyperglycaemia, and, when present, whether it was associated with a worse outcome (i.e. increased length of hospital stay, admission to ICU, or mortality). PATIENTS AND METHODS Over a 2-year period, we retrospectively analysed records of patients with a primary diagnosis of hip fracture (ICD-9-CM 820.x). The records were retrieved from an electronic hospital database. RESULTS An admission blood sugar level (aBSL) greater than 140 mg/dl was observed in 34% of the patients and was associated with a higher in-hospital mortality (P=0.042). ICU admissions and length of stay did not differ for patients having an aBSL above or below the 140 mg/dl cut-off. CONCLUSION Hyperglycaemia is common in hip-fracture patients. A high aBSL might serve as a prognostic indicator in hip-fracture patients. To our knowledge, this is the first report of hyperglycaemia-associated mortality in less severely traumatised patients, who generally are not admitted to an ICU.

/pdf/admission-hyperglycaemia-is-associated-with-higher-mortality-33m7ikc0hp.pdf

Jean-Bernard Gillet

Papers

Is a lung perfusion scan obtained by using single photon emission computed tomography able to improve the radionuclide diagnosis of pulmonary embolism

Emergency Department Visits Due to Alcohol Intoxication: Characteristics of Patients and Impact on the Emergency Room

CLINICAL ASPECTS Emergency Department Visits Due to Alcohol Intoxication: Characteristics of Patients and Impact on the Emergency Room

Impact of temperature exposure on stability of drugs in a real-world out-of-hospital setting.

Admission hyperglycaemia is associated with higher mortality in patients with hip fracture.