Pulmonary embolism in pregnancy: Difference between revisions
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==Clinical Features== | ==Clinical Features== | ||
{{PE clinical presentation}} | |||
==Differential Diagnosis== | ==Differential Diagnosis== | ||
Revision as of 04:06, 7 November 2014
Background
Clinical Features
Symptoms
According to the PIOPED II study, these are the most common presenting signs[1]
- Dyspnea at rest or with exertion (73%)
- Pleuritic chest pain (44%)
- Cough (37%)
- Orthopnea (28%)
- Calf or thigh pain and/or swelling (44%)
- Wheezing (21%)
- Hemoptysis (13%)
Signs
- Tachypnea (54%)
- Calf or thigh swelling, erythema, edema, tenderness, palpable cord (47%)
- Tachycardia (24%)
- Rales (18%)
- Decreased breath sounds (17%)
- Accentuated pulmonic component of the second heart sound (15%)
- JVD (14%)
- Fever (3%)
Differential Diagnosis
Workup
- If clinical features suggestive of PE and lower extremity swelling then
- Bilateral LE Ultrasound
- if Positive-->treat empirically for PE
- if Negative-->CTA
- CT (with shield) vs. V/Q is roughly equilivalent radiation exposure
American Thoracic Society In Pregnancy[2]
- D-dimer is not recommended for excluding PE (weak recommendation, very-low-quality evidence).
- If signs and symptoms of deep venous thrombosis (DVT), first perform bilateral venous compression ultrasound (CUS) of lower extremities, followed by anticoagulation treatment if positive and by further testing if negative (weak recommendation, very-low-quality evidence).
- If no signs and symptoms of DVT, pulmonary vascular imaging should be used over bilateral lower extremity ultrasounds(weak recommendation, very-low-quality evidence).
D-Dimer
- D-Dimer MAY BE used with following limits with very poor evidence[3][4]
- 1st trimester: <750 ng/mL (+50% increase from normal lab threshold)
- 2nd trimester: <1000 ng/mL (+100% from normal)
- 3rd trimester: <1250 ng/mL (+150% from normal)
Management
- Heparin and Enoxaparin are safe (coumadin is not)
Disposition
Admit
See Also
Sources
- ↑ Stein PD et al. Clinical characteristics of patients with acute pulmonary embolism: data from PIOPED II. Am J Med. 2007;120(10):871.
- ↑ Leung, A et al. An Official American Thoracic Society/Society of Thoracic Radiology Clinical Practice Guideline: Evaluation of Suspected Pulmonary Embolism PDF
- ↑ Kovac M. The use of D-dimer with new cutoff can be useful in diagnosis of venous thromboembolism in pregnancy. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol. 2010 Jan;148(1):27-30
- ↑ http://blog.ercast.org/2013/04/pulmonary-embolism-in-pregnancy/