Clinical analysis of elderly acute pulmonary embolism patients with normal blood pressure and right ventricular dysfunction

Abstract

Objective To analyze the clinical characteristics of the elderly acute pulmonary embolism(APE)patients with normal blood pressure and right ventricular dysfunction(RVD). Methods A total of 133 elderly APE patients with normal blood pressure and RVD were retrospectively analyzed.According to whether or not to merge RVD, patients were divided into the RVD group(n=42)and the non-RVD group(n=91). The incidence of clinical symptoms and signs, the incidence of pulmonary embolism, clinical indicators after thrombolytic therapy, and the incidence of bleeding were compared and analyzed between RVD and non-RVD groups. Results The incidences of syncope(33.3% or 14/42 vs.7.8% 7/91), P2 accentuation(45.2% or 19/42 vs.25.3% or 23/91), tachycardia(40.5% or 17/42 vs.20.9% or 19/91), cyanosis(26.2% or 11/42 vs.8.8% or 8/91)and jugular vein filling(11.9% or 5/42 vs.1.1% or 1/91)had significant differences between RVD and non-RVD groups(χ2=4.928, 4.644, 5.410, 4.971 and 4.163, all P<0.05). The incidence of proximal pulmonary embolism was higher in RVD group than in non-RVD group[25(59.5%)vs.8(8.8%), χ2=13.636, P<0.01], and the incidence of lobar artery embolism was higher in RVD group than in non-RVD group[32(76.2%)vs.47(51.6%), χ2=9.530, P<0.01]. Thirteen RVD patients received low-molecular-weight heparin anticoagulation combined with thrombolytic therapy, and 29 RVD patients took low-molecular-weight heparin anticoagulant therapy.The pulmonary artery systolic pressure(PASP)and tricuspid regurgitation pressure levels were higher in the thrombolytic therapy group than in the anticoagulant therapy group(t=2.894, 2.518 and 1.957, P=0.004, 0.015 and 0.026). The incidence of bleeding was higher in the thrombolytic therapy group than in the anticoagulant therapy group(23.1% vs.10.3%, χ2= 3.498, P=0.015). Conclusions The right ventricular dysfunction should be confirmed in APE patients with embolism involving proximal pulmonary artery or(and)presenting clinical symptoms or signs such as syncope and tachycardia.The anticoagulation therapy is effective and safe for elderly patients with normal blood pressure and right heart dysfunction without risks for further deterioration. Key words: Pulmonary embolism; Blood pressure; Ventricular function, right; Thrombolysis therapy