Pulmonary embolism treatment. Detection of chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension

The correct stratification of pulmonary embolism risk (PE) is essential for decision-making, regarding treatment and defining the patient's place of admission. In high-risk PE, urgent re-establishment of pulmonary circulation and admission to a critical unit is required. The reperfusion treatment of choice is systemic thrombolysis, although in certain situations, especially when there is a contraindication for it, we will evaluate a surgical embolectomy or one of the catheter-guided therapies. In the rest of PE, the treatment of choice will be anticoagulation. Currently, direct oral anticoagulants have become the treatment of choice for the treatment of PE, due to their better safety profile. However, low molecular weight heparins and subsequently antivitamins K, remain the most used treatment, because they are funded by the public system. In cases of PE with cardiorespiratory arrest and / or cardiogenic shock, whenever available at our center, we must consider the indication of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. The recent creation of PE response teams (PERT team), have meant an improvement in the care of patients with intermediate-high and high risk PE. During the follow-up of patients with PE, it is essential to perform a correct screening of chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension, in order to perform a correct diagnostic and therapeutic approach.