Pulmonary Embolism In Cancer Patients Research Articles

Acute pulmonary embolism in cancer patients admitted to intensive care unit: Impact of anticoagulant treatment on 90-day mortality and risk factors, results of a multicentre retrospective study

BackgroundAcute pulmonary embolism (PE) is a life-threatening situation in cancer patients. In this situation, anticoagulant therapy is complex to administer due to the risk of bleeding. Only few studies have been conducted when these patients are admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU). The aim of this study was to assess the association between anticoagulation strategies as well as other factors with 90-day mortality in patients with cancer and PE admitted to ICU. Major bleeding was also evaluated according to the type of anticoagulation. MethodsRetrospective study carried out in 4 ICUs in France over a 12-year period (2009–2021). All patients with cancer and PE were included. An overlap propensity score weighting analysis was performed in the subgroup of patients treated with either unfractionated heparins (UFH) alone or low-molecular-weight heparins (LMWH) alone on 90-day mortality and major bleeding. ResultsA total of 218 consecutive cancer patients admitted to ICU and presenting PE were included. The 90-day mortality rate was 42 % for the global cohort. After propensity score analysis in the subgroup of patients treated with either “UFH alone” (n = 80) or “LMWH alone” (n = 71), the 90-day mortality was similar in patients treated with UFH alone (42.6 %) vs LMWH alone (39.9 %): OR = 1.124, CI 95 % [0.571–2.214], p = 0.750. There was a significant increased toward major bleeding rates in the “UFH alone” group (25.5 %) as compared to “LMWH alone” group (11.5 %), p = 0.04. ConclusionIn 218 patients admitted to ICU and presenting PE, the 90-day mortality rate was 42 %. Treatment with UFH alone was associated with a mortality comparable to treatment with LMWH alone but it appeared to be more prone to major bleeding.

Prognostic Effect of Incidental Pulmonary Embolism on Long-Term Mortality in Cancer Patients.

The effect of incidental pulmonary embolism (PE) on long-term prognosis in cancer patients is unclear. This study assessed the characteristics of cancer and venous thromboembolism (VTE) and the effect of incidental PE identified by oncologists on long-term survival of patients with cancer.Methods and Results:This single-center, retrospective, cohort study used hospital-based cancer registry data from the Osaka International Cancer Institute linked with electronic medical records and administrative data from Japan's Diagnosis Procedure Combination Per-diem Payment System. Overall, 15,689 cancer patients underwent contrast-enhanced thoracic computed tomography during 2010-2018. After excluding patients with missing data, symptomatic patients, or patients with suspected PE, 174 with incidental PE (PE+ group) and 13,197 with no PE (PE- group) were identified. The total incidence of incidental PE was 1.3%. No deaths from thrombotic events were identified in the PE+ group. Both groups were adjusted for cancer- and VTE-related characteristics using inverse probability weighting. After adjusting for immortal time bias in the PE+ group, Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed that all-cause mortality was higher in the PE+ group (hazard ratio, 2.26; 95% confidence interval, 1.53-3.33). A Cox proportional hazard model revealed that metastatic cancer and a history of curative treatment were significant prognostic factors, whereas central PE and residual proximal deep vein thrombosis were not. Incidental PE in cancer patients indicates poorer prognosis. Cancer-related but not thrombosis-related factors determine prognosis.

In-hospital outcomes of acute pulmonary embolism in patients with gastrointestinal cancer: A nationwide study.

624 Background: Cancer is a well-established risk factor for the development of pulmonary embolism (PE), especially the. gastrointestinal (GI) cancers. While multiple studies have reported the burden of PE in cancer patients, recent data comparing in-hospital outcomes among different types of cancer patients are lacking. This study aimed to investigate the clinical and healthcare utilization outcomes of hospitalized patients with acute PE in the context of gastrointestinal (GI) cancers. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted using data from the National Inpatient Sample (2016-2020). International Statistical Classification of Diseases (ICD-10) codes were employed to identify hospitalized patients admitted with primary diagnosis acute PE. Data regarding GI cancer diagnosis along with demographic information, baseline clinical characteristics, and outcome variables, including mortality, hospital length of stay, total hospital charges, complications and risk factors were collected and analyzed. Statistical analysis was performed using the survey procedures function in STATA v.17, with statistical significance defined by the t-test at a significance level of p < 0.05. Results: Among the 181,060 patients admitted with primary diagnosis of acute pulmonary embolism, 550 (0.3%) had underlying gastric cancer, 1,790 (0.98%) had pancreatic cancer, 875 (0.48%) had hepatobiliary cancer, and 2,600 (1.61%) had small intestine and colorectal cancer. Mortality was found to be significantly higher in all types of GI cancer, with gastric cancer demonstrating the highest mortality rate (10%). After adjusting for age, sex, race, payment category, comorbidities, and risk factors of PE, gastric cancer (OR 2.6; 95% CI: 1.1-6.2) and pancreatic cancer (OR 2.2; 95% CI: 1.4-3.4) were found as independent risk factors for mortality. There was no significant difference in mean length of hospital stays and mean total hospital charges in patients with or without cancer. Similarly, no significant differences were observed in complications such as requirement for mechanical ventilation, arrhythmia, cardiac arrest, need for vasopressor and thrombolysis. Conclusions: In-hospital mortality in patients with acute pulmonary embolism is significantly higher in all types of GI cancer, however; there is no significant differences in hospital length of stay and total hospital charges in patients with or without cancer.

Pulmonary embolism in cancer patients. Effectiveness of vitamin K antagonists and direct oral anticoagulants in long-term therapy.

Patients with cancer are prone to develop pulmonary embolism (PE) in the course of cancer-associated thrombosis. These patients have increased risk of both recurrent venous thromboembolism and major bleeding. Pulmonary embolism treatment in the cancer patient group is challenging. Selection of anticoagulants, duration of anticoagulation, decision of adjuvant therapy, and adjustment of the regimen in special situations are the major problems that need to be considered in the treatment of cancer-associated PE. Current first line treatment in long-term therapy following an episode of PE is low molecular weight heparin (LMWH), with direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) and vitamin K antagonists (VKAs) listed as viable alternatives. This study aims to explore long-term oral anticoagulation therapy for cancer patients. Both VKAs and DOACs are compared to LMWH, which serves as a gold standard in anticoagulation therapy for cancer patients and has proven to be effective.

OC 64.1 Natural History of Untreated Acute Pulmonary Embolism in Cancer Patients: A Retrospective Cohort of Patients with Missed Pulmonary Embolism

OC 64.1 Natural History of Untreated Acute Pulmonary Embolism in Cancer Patients: A Retrospective Cohort of Patients with Missed Pulmonary Embolism

Prognosis of incidental pulmonary embolism vs. symptomatic pulmonary embolism in cancer patients: a single-center retrospective cohort study in China

BackgroundThe incidence of incidental pulmonary embolism (IPE) has greatly increased, but its clinical characteristics and outcomes are still controversial. This study aimed to compare the clinical characteristics and outcomes between cancer patients with IPE and patients with symptomatic pulmonary embolism (SPE).Patients/MethodsClinical data of 180 consecutive patients with cancer complicated with pulmonary embolism admitted to Beijing Cancer Hospital from July 2011 to December 2019 were retrospectively collected and analysed. General characteristics, diagnosis time of pulmonary embolism (PE), location of PE, concurrent deep venous thrombosis, anticoagulant treatment, impact of PE on anti-tumor treatment, recurrent venous thromboembolism, rate of bleeding after anticoagulation therapy, survival and risk factors of IPE were compared with SPE.ResultsOf 180 patients, 88 (49%) had IPEs and 92 (51%) had SPEs. Patients with IPE and SPE did not differ in age, sex, tumor type, or tumor stage. Median diagnosis times of IPE and SPE after cancer were 108 (45, 432) days and 90 (7, 383) days, respectively. Compared to SPE, IPE tended to be central (44% versus 26%; P < 0.001), isolated (31.8% versus 0.0%; P < 0.001), and unilateral (67.1% versus 12.8%; P < 0.00). The rate of bleeding after anticoagulation therapy did not differ between IPE and SPE. Patients with IPE had a better prognosis than patients with SPE in terms of 30-, and 90-day mortality, as well as overall survival after diagnosis of PE (median: 314.5 vs. 192.0 days, log-rank P = 0.004) and cancer (median: 630.0 vs. 450.5 days, log-rank P = 0.018). SPE (compared to IPE) was an independent risk factor for poor survival after diagnosis of PE in multivariate analysis (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.564, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.008–2.425, p = 0.046).ConclusionsIPE accounts for nearly one half of PE cases among Chinese cancer patients. With active anticoagulation treatment, IPE is expected to achieve better survival rates than SPE.

Risk factors and potential predictors of pulmonary embolism in cancer patients undergoing thoracic and abdominopelvic surgery: a case control study

BackgroundPostoperative pulmonary embolism (PE) is a severe complication leading to death and poor prognosis. The present study investigated the risk factors and potential predictors of PE in cancer patients undergoing thoracic and abdominopelvic surgery.MethodsA retrospective study was conducted on the patients with cancer who underwent thoracic and abdominopelvic surgery in Sichuan Cancer Hospital from December 2016 to January 2022. A total of 189 patients were included, in which 63 patients diagnosed PE after operation were collected as PE group, and 126 patients matched by age, type of cancer and cancer location were enrolled as control group. Conditional logistic regression was conducted to analyze the association between PE and risk factors. Predictive values of key factors were compared by the area under the curve (AUC) in receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) curve.ResultsConditional multivariate logistic regression showed that BMI (odds ratio [OR] 4.065, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.138–14.527; p = 0.031), intraoperative hypotension time (OR 4.095, 95% CI 1.367–12.266; p = 0.009), same day fluid balance (OR 0.245, 95% CI 0.061–0.684; p = 0.048), and postoperative D-Dimer (OR 1.693, 95% CI 1.098–2.611; p = 0.017) were significantly related to the occurrence of postoperative PE. Postoperative D-Dimer had the maximal AUC value 0.8014 (95% CI: 0.7260–0.8770) for predicting PE, with a cutoff value of 1.505 μg/ml.ConclusionsBMI, intraoperative hypotension time, lower same day fluid balance and postoperative D-dimer are independent risk factors associated with PE in cancer patients undergoing thoracic and abdominopelvic surgery. Postoperative D-Dimer seems to be a good indicator to predict postoperative PE for cancer patients.

Anticoagulant therapy for pulmonary embolism in cancer patients

Venous thromboembolic complications most often occur in cancer patients, which is a big problem for the doctor in each specific case and for the health care system in general.&#x0D; The article highlights the peculiarities of diagnosis, establishing the stage of the tumor process and risk factors for the occurrence of pulmonary embolism. Considerable attention is paid to the peculiarities of the selection of drugs and their dosage for the treatment of the specified cohort of patients.

Abstract No. 278 Evaluation of chronic sequelae of pulmonary embolism in cancer patients: a population health analysis

The long-term consequences of non-fatal PE in cancer patients such as chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) are not well understood. It is unclear whether cancer patients would benefit from interventions such as pulmonary thrombectomy to prevent this complication. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the incidence and risk factors for CTEPH in cancer patients with PE.

Incidental Pulmonary Embolism in Cancer Patients: A Single-Institution Analysis in Panama

Incidental Pulmonary Embolism in Cancer Patients: A Single-Institution Analysis in Panama

How to treat incidental pulmonary embolism in cancer patients? Recent advances.

Patients with cancer have an increased risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE). In addition, due to the growing use of computed tomography scans in these patients and the improved scanners and imaging qualities, many cases of VTE are diagnosed incidentally on images obtained for reasons other than suspicion of VTE. Studies have shown that as many as half of all cancer-related pulmonary embolism (PE) cases could be incidental. Despite the common occurrence, the optimal management of incidental PE in patients with cancer remains unclear. This review will summarize pertinent literature related to incidental PE in the cancer population and discuss their outcomes and recommended treatments.

Clinical factors and outcomes of subsegmental pulmonary embolism in cancer patients

In the cancer population, patients diagnosed with venous thromboembolism (VTE) are considered to have a threefold increased risk of mortality compared with those without VTE. With the advent of modern computed tomography (CT), the rate of diagnosis of subsegmental pulmonary embolism (SSPE) has increased, likely as a result of improved visualization of the peripheral pulmonary arteries. The clinical significance of SSPE remains unclear because of the lack of randomized controlled clinical trials. The aim of this study was to identify the incidence and risk factors of recurrent proximal PE within 12 months of diagnosis of SSPE in cancer. We performed a retrospective analysis of 206 adult cancer patients who were diagnosed with SSPE from 2014 to 2016 at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. At the time of SSPE diagnosis, the majority had metastatic cancer, 108 patients (53.2%) were undergoing chemotherapy, and 23 patients (11.2%) had a history of VTE. Most patients had an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status of 0 to 2. Sixty-seven percent of SSPE was discovered incidentally on restaging CT scans, with the majority being a single and isolated event (70.9%). Within 12 months of SSPE diagnosis, 18 patients (8.7%) were found to have a recurrent PE. The patients treated with anticoagulation had a lower rate of PE recurrence (8% vs 13% in those not treated with anticoagulation). Treatment with anticoagulation did not appear to have a significant impact on overall survival (P = .48) when adjusted for ECOG performance status and cancer stage.

Treatment of venous thromboembolism in cancer patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis on the efficacy and safety of different direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs).

BackgroundTo evaluate the efficacy and safety of different direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) compared with low molecular weight heparins (LMWHs) in the treatment of venous thromboembolism (VTE) in cancer patients.MethodsLiterature was searched in databases including Cochrane Library, EMBASE (Ovid), and MEDLINE (PubMed). Eligible studies were included, and data were collected independently by 2 reviewers. We conducted a systematic review of the efficacy and safety of DOACs in the treatment of VTE in cancer patients. The odds ratios (ORs) of different DOACs compared with LMWHs for VTE, deep vein thrombosis (DVT), pulmonary embolism (PE) recurrence, major bleeding, and clinically relevant non-major bleeding (CRNMB), were calculated in meta-analyses and subgroup analyses.ResultsA total of 18 articles were eligible for analyses, including 4 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and 14 retrospective studies. Both RCTs and retrospective studies confirmed that DOACs decreased the risk of VTE recurrence [RCTs: OR, 0.60; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.45–0.80; retrospective studies: OR, 0.73; 95% CI, 0.59–0.90] and DVT recurrence (RCTs: OR, 0.54; 95% CI, 0.36–0.80; retrospective studies: OR, 0.20; 95% CI, 0.06–0.63), but not PE recurrence or fatal PE in cancer patients. Subgroup analyses revealed an important role of rivaroxaban in decreasing recurrent VTE. Meanwhile, major bleeding events were not increased in the DOAC group, but the risks of CRNMBs were significantly elevated. Subgroup analyses confirmed the role of rivaroxaban in increasing the risk of major bleeding events and CRNMBs.ConclusionsCompared with LMWHs, DOACs (especially rivaroxaban) significantly reduce the risk of VTE and DVT, but not PE recurrence, in patients with cancer. Although DOACs did not increase the major bleeding events in pooled analysis, rivaroxaban showed an elevated risk of this adverse effect in subgroup analysis. In addition, the risk of CRNMB events was increased after the application of DOACs including rivaroxaban.

Nationwide Analysis of Emergency Department Visits for Pulmonary Embolism in Cancer Patients

Nationwide Analysis of Emergency Department Visits for Pulmonary Embolism in Cancer Patients

Clinical characteristics, management, and outcome of incidental pulmonary embolism in cancer patients

AbstractIncidental pulmonary embolisms (IPEs) are common in cancer patients. Examining the characteristics and outcomes of IPEs in cancer patients can help to ensure proper management, promoting better outcomes. To determine the clinical characteristics, management, and outcomes of IPEs for cancer patients, we conducted a 1:2 ratio case-control study and identified all consecutive patients with IPE who visited the emergency department at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center between 1 January 2006 and 1 January 2016. Each IPE case was matched with 2 controls using a propensity score obtained using logistic regression for IPE status with other factors affecting overall survival. A total of 904 confirmed cases were included in the analysis. IPE frequently occurred during the first year after cancer diagnosis (odds ratio [OR], 2.79; 95% confidence interval [95% CI], 2.37-3.29; P < .001). Patients receiving cytotoxic chemotherapy had a nearly threefold greater risk of developing IPE (OR, 2.87; 95% CI, 2.42-3.40; P < .001). In-hospital mortality was 1.9%. The 7- and 30-day mortality rates among the cases were 1.8% and 9.9%, respectively, which was significantly higher than in the control groups: 0.2% and 3.1%, respectively (P < .001). IPE was associated with reduced overall survival (hazard ratio [HR], 1.93; 95% CI, 1.74-2.14; P < .001). Concurrent incidental venous thromboembolism was identified in 189 of the patients (20.9%) and was also associated with reduced overall survival (HR, 1.65; 95% CI, 1.21-2.25; P = .001). Our results show that IPE events are associated with poor outcomes in cancer patients. Proper management plans similar to those of symptomatic pulmonary embolisms are essential.

CLO20-067: Clinical Characteristics, Management and Outcome of Incidental Pulmonary Embolism in Cancer Patients: A Case-Control Study

CLO20-067: Clinical Characteristics, Management and Outcome of Incidental Pulmonary Embolism in Cancer Patients: A Case-Control Study

Outpatient Management of Cancer Patients During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was first identified in Wuhan, China. In no time, SARS-CoV- 2 found its way to the whole world, to be declared as a pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO) on March 11th, 2020. As this disease continues to take its toll on the world as a whole, we, at the American University of Beirut Medical Center (AUBMC), believe that it is essential to protect those who are at a particularly high-risk for contracting the virus, namely cancer patients. Besides complying with all the protective measures recommended by WHO, we developed quality improvement plans for the outpatient management of febrile neutropenia, pneumonia and pulmonary embolism in cancer patients. The aim of such plans is to offer adequate management for cancer patients on an outpatient basis, whenever possible, and thus limit their admission rates together with their risk of contracting the novel virus, SARS-CoV- 2.

Structural features of the lower limb deep vein remodeling as a morphologic component in the pathogenesis of pulmonary thromboembolism in cancer patients

Oncological patients are at high risk of developing thromboembolic complications, which is a manifestation of a complex set of symptoms – cancer. At the same time, the analysis of the literature shows that the question of the involvement of structural changes of the vascular wall in the pathogenesis of possible primary thrombus formation in cancer patients remains open. The aim of the study – to study the structural features of remodeling of the deep vein of the lower extremity as a morphological link of pathogenesis of pulmonary embolism in cancer patients. Retrospective analysis of 54 protocols of autopsy of deaths from cardiopulmonary shock caused by pulmonary embolism in 2014-2018 was performed. In parallel, all patients were determined the number of free-circulating endothelial cells in the citrate blood by Hladovez J. method, in modification of Sivak V.V. and co-authors (2007). Statistical processing of digital data was performed using the software “Excel” and “STATISTICA” 6.0. In retrospective analysis of autopsy protocols, the highest proportion of pulmonary embolism was report in patients with cancer of the uterus and colon. Morphological changes of the deep vein of the lower extremities in cancer patients were manifested by endothelium desquamation and circular and focal muscular-fibrous hyperplasia of the intima, which caused disturbances of laminar flow of blood; muscular-fibrous atrophy with neovascularization of the middle membrane and sclerosis of vasa vasorum vessels of adventitia. The process of remodeling was also manifest by the inflammatory transformation of the vascular wall, the formation of obstructing and floating blood clots with their subsequent organization, vascularization and recanalization. The cause of intimal thickening, atrophy, and sclerosis with midbrain neovascularization is most likely a hypoxic mechanism of activation of transforming connective tissue growth factors that stimulate collagenogenesis and neoangiogenesis. Desquamation of endothelial cells can also be considered as a significant contributor to thrombus formation. Endothelial cells have a protective function aimed at eliminating damage to the vascular wall by thrombus formation and the development of fibrous intima hyperplasia. In addition, tumor cells are themselves capable of producing excess platelet growth factor, which causes intima proliferation. So, a component of pathomorphogenesis of pulmonary artery thromboembolism in cancer patients is a complex structural reconstruction of the wall of the deep vein of the lower extremity, which causes the development of its thrombosis. Deep vein remodeling in cancer patients is characterized by endothelial cell desquamation, intima and middle-membrane thickening and sclerosis in combination with vasa vasorum fibrous degeneration and perforant vein thrombosis. In response to hemodynamic disorders, compensatory remodeling develops: the combination of leiomyocyte atrophy with their hypertrophy and neovascularization of the middle membrane.

Chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension suspicion after pulmonary embolism in cancer patients

IntroductionChronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) is a severe condition which should be screened in patient with persistent dyspnea after pulmonary embolism (PE). After PE, CTEPH incidence was estimated between 0.1 and 9.1% in overall patients. Although cancer is associated with an increased risk of CTEPH, CTEPH incidence is still unknown in cancer patients with PE. We aimed to estimate the frequency CTEPH-likely patients after PE, in cancer patients. MaterialsWe individualized cancer patients of a monocentric prospective registry including consecutive patients with symptomatic PE. The primary outcome was the frequency of “CTEPH-likely” patients defined by the European Respiratory Society (ERS) guidelines (an accelerated tricuspid regurgitation more than 2.8m/s and at least 1–2 segmental or larger-sized defects, after more than 3 months of therapeutic anticoagulation). ResultsWe included 129 cancer patients with PE. Colorectal cancer (19%), breast cancer (17%) and prostate cancer (15%) were the most frequent cancers. PE occurred after surgery or medical immobilization in 17% of patients, while 26% of patients had history of venous thromboembolism. During the follow-up, 2 patients (1.5%) had a clinical suspicion of CTEPH and only 1 patient with ovarian cancer (0.75% 95%CI [0.0%–2.2%]) was classified as “CTEPH-likely”, 6 months after PE. ConclusionThe frequency of screening for CTEPH seems negligible in PE patients with cancer. Concomitant cancer may affect the clinical suspicion of CTEPH.

Risk Stratification in the Evaluation of Pulmonary Embolism in Cancer Patients

The 2015 American College of Physicians (ACP) guideline for the evaluation of pulmonary embolism (PE) included use of risk stratification tools such as