Principales aspectos en el manejo diagnóstico y terapéutico del tromboembolismo pulmonar

Abstract

Introduction: Pulmonary embolism (PE) is defined as the occlusion of the pulmonary arterial circulation that generally occurs due to the presence of a thrombus that originates in another vascular territory and travels through the bloodstream towards the pulmonary circulation. It represents the third cause of cardiovascular disease worldwide. Objective: To discuss the main elements to take into account in the diagnostic and therapeutic management of pulmonary thromboembolism, which provides useful information to the personal health care provider through an exhaustive review of the bibliography, using evidence-based medicine. Materials and methods: Evidence-based medicine articles were searched with the topic “pulmonary embolism” in databases such as PubMed, Scielo, Cochrane, Intramed and Google Scholar; selecting for review those high impact journal articles that are in quartile 1 and 2. Conclusion: For the diagnosis of PE, an exhaustive study of the risk and etiological factors must be carried out, an estimate of clinical probability based on the use of validated scales and the analysis of signs and symptoms compatible with the orientation towards the diagnosis, studies of laboratory and imaging. Treatment is aimed at reperfusion of the pulmonary circulation and stabilization of the hemodynamic state. This is classified based on stratification by risk groups.