Patent Foramen Ovale and Major Pulmonary Embolism

Abstract

WITH AN ANNUAL prevalence exceeding 1 per 1,000, venous thromboembolism (VTE) is the third most common cardiovascular pathology. 1 Geerts W.H. Heit J.A. Clagett G.P. et al. Prevention of venous thromboembolism. Chest. 2001; 119: 132S-175S Crossref PubMed Scopus (1628) Google Scholar Pulmonary embolism (PE) is a life-threatening complication of VTE and is held responsible for approximately 10% of hospital deaths 2 Geerts W.H. Pineo G.F. Heit J.A. et al. Prevention of venous thromboembolism: The seventh ACCP Conference on antithrombotic and thrombolytic therapy. Chest. 2004; 126: 338S-400S Crossref PubMed Scopus (2828) Google Scholar and more than half a million deaths in Europe annually. 3 Cohen A.T. Agnelli G. Anderson F.A. et al. Venous thromboembolism (VTE) in Europe The number of VTE events and associated morbidity and mortality. Thromb Haemost. 2007; 98: 756-764 Crossref PubMed Google Scholar Surgery induces a proinflammatory and procoagulatory state predisposing to VTE. 1 Geerts W.H. Heit J.A. Clagett G.P. et al. Prevention of venous thromboembolism. Chest. 2001; 119: 132S-175S Crossref PubMed Scopus (1628) Google Scholar Depending on the surgical procedure, VTE rates of up to 80% have been reported without prophylaxis. 4 Choi B.Y. Huo M.H. Venous thromboembolism following total knee replacement. J Surg Orthop Adv. 2007; 16: 31-35 PubMed Google Scholar Obesity is a principal risk factor for the occurrence of VTE in both women and men. 5 Stein P.D. Beemath A. Olson R.E. Obesity as a risk factor in venous thromboembolism. Am J Med. 2005; 118: 978-980 Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (431) Google Scholar