How to Anticoagulate: Clinic and Management of Pulmonary Thromboembolism – Literature Review

Introduction:Pulmonary thromboembolism is a clinical syndrome characterized by obstruction of the pulmonary artery or one of its branches by thrombi, air or fat droplets, originating from the systemic venous circulation (Konstantinides SV, et al. 2014).Goal: To review anticoagulation and management of pulmonary thromboembolism.Result: We must reach the state of full anticoagulation within the first 24 hours of therapy.This is only possible with the use of parenteral medications or new oral anticoagulants (direct thrombin or factor Xa inhibitors), whose onset of action is immediate (Tapson VF, 2008).Conclusion: Anticoagulation reduces the mortality rate by around 80-90%, basically due to its ability to prevent PTE recurrence (secondary prevention) (Kline JA, et al. 2008).