Pulmonary embolism - Pulmonary thromboembolism in patient with rectal adenocarcinoma

Abstract

Pulmonary thromboembolism (PTE) is potentially life-threatening disorder. The pathogenesis of pulmonary thromboembolism isn’t fully understood, but it is believed to involve imbalance between pro-coagulants and anticoagulants, as well as endothelial dysfunction and acute or chronic inflammation. Pulmonary embolism (PE) occurs when there is a disruption to the blood flow in the pulmonary artery or pulmonary branches by a thrombus that originated somewhere else. Risk factors for PE are deficiency of protein S,protein C deficiency, anti-thrombin III deficiency, LA-lupus anticoagulant, factor V Leiden deficiency, antiphospholipid syndrome (APLS), previous surgical treatment, chemotherapy, immunosuppressive drugs, immobility, overweight ,oral contraceptives, pregnancy ,history of vein thrombosis ,thrombophlebitis , varicose veins. There is a relationship between higher body mass index (BMI) and VTE, and patients with severe obesity (BMI ≥ 35) have higher risk of pulmonary thromboembolism compared with those of normal BMI. Patients with pulmonary thromboembolism may present with a spectrum of symptoms, including chest pain, shortness of breath, tachycardia, hemoptysis, asymmetric pitting edema on legs, prominent superficial collateral vessels, tenderness and pain to palpation of the leg, red or purple color, warmth on the affected leg. The diagnostic work-up of suspected pulmonary embolism includes D-dimer testing, ECG, ultrasonography of heart and CT angiography. Direct oral anticoagulants are first-line treatment options for venous thromboembolism because they are associated with a lower risk of bleeding disorders than vitamin K antagonists. Use of thrombolysis should be limited to pulmonary embolism associated with haemodynamic instability. Anticoagulants should be continued for at least 3 to 6 months to prevent early recurrences and relaps of PE. Haematological malignancies, lymphoma, lung cancers and colorectal cancers are the most common cause of PE

Keywords: pulmonary embolism, DVT, oral anticoagulantants, oral contraceptives