Silent Pulmonary Embolism In Patients Research Articles

Should we look for silent pulmonary embolism in patients with deep venous thrombosis?

BackgroundAsymptomatic or silent pulmonary embolism (S-PE) in patients with deep vein thrombosis has been the focus of numerous publications with the objective of determining the incidence of S-PE and assessing whether its existence has any clinical or therapeutic consequences that outweigh the risks associated with the diagnostic tests performed and the increased healthcare costs. The objectives were to assess the incidence of S-PE using computed tomography angiogram (CTA), to understand the epidemiological factors that might trigger embolism, and to assess whether D-dimer (DD) predicts the existence of S-PE’s.MethodsA prospective and consecutive assessment of 103 hospitalized patients with lower limb DVT in the absence of PE symptoms, using CT scan. DD was quantified before anticoagulation. The risk factors and characteristics of the DVT were studied. A three-year follow-up assessing risk recurrence and clinical outcome was performed.ResultsThe incidence of S-PE was 66%. In 77% of these cases, the main and lobar pulmonary arteries were affected. Iliac and femoral DVTs most often produced S-PE. ROC curve with a DD value higher than 578 ng/ml provided good sensitivity but low specificity to identify patients with S-PE. Diagnosis entailed higher hospitalization expenses. No significant recurrence rate of thrombotic events was observed in the S-PE group during the follow-up.ConclusionsThe incidence of S-PE in lower-limb DVT is high, but in the absence of symptoms, diagnosis does not appear to be necessary, as there are no short- or long-term clinical or therapeutic consequences.

Risk factors associated with the occurrence of silent pulmonary embolism in patients with deep venous thrombosis of the lower limb

The aim of our study is to investigate the prevalence of silent pulmonary embolism in patients with deep venous thrombosis in the lower limbs and to evaluate the associated risk factors. A total of 322 patients with acute deep venous thrombosis confirmed by CT venography or Doppler ultrasonography were studied. The diagnosis of silent pulmonary embolism was established by computed tomography pulmonary arteriography (CTPA). The association between covariates and the prevalence of silent pulmonary embolism in patients with deep venous thrombosis in lower limbs were assessed using chi-square test and multivariable regression. The incidence of silent pulmonary embolism was 33.5% (108 in 322 patients) in all patients with deep venous thrombosis in lower limbs. Chi-square test showed male gender, the right lower limb, proximal location of the thrombus, unprovoked venous thrombosis and coexisting heart diseases were related to a higher incidence of silent pulmonary embolism in patients with deep venous thrombosis in lower limbs. The multivariate regression analysis confirmed that the risk factors associated with silent pulmonary embolism in deep venous thrombosis patients included the right side and proximal location of the thrombus (odds ratio: 2.023, 95% CI: 1.215-3.368; odds ratio: 3.610, 95% CI: 1.772-7.354), unprovoked venous thrombosis (odds ratio: 2.037, 95% CI: 1.188-3.493), coexisting heart diseases (odds ratio: 4.507, 95% CI: 2.667-7.618). Silent pulmonary embolism occurred frequently in patients with deep venous thrombosis in lower limbs. The right side, the proximal location of the thrombus, unprovoked venous thrombosis and coexisting heart diseases increased the risk for the occurrence of silent pulmonary embolism.

Silent pulmonary embolism in patients with proximal deep vein thrombosis in the lower limbs

One in every three patients with deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in the lower limbs may have silent pulmonary embolism (PE), but its clinical relevance has not been thoroughly studied. We used the RIETE Registry data to study patients with proximal DVT and no PE symptoms, but with a systematic search for PE. We compared the outcome of DVT patients with silent PE and those with no PE. Of 2375 patients with DVT, 842 (35%) had silent PE and 1533 had no PE. During the first 15 days of anticoagulation, patients presenting with silent PE had a higher incidence of symptomatic PE events than those with no PE (0.95% vs. 0.13%; P = 0.015), with a similar incidence of major bleeding (0.95% vs. 1.63%; P = 0.09). In patients with silent PE, the incidence of PE events during the first 15 days was equal to the incidence of major bleeding (eight events each), but in those with no PE the incidence of PE events was eight times lower (3 vs. 25 bleeding events). Multivariate analysis confirmed that DVT patients with silent PE had a higher incidence of symptomatic PE events during the first 15 days than those with no PE (odds ratio, 4.80; 95% CI, 1.27-18.1), with no differences in bleeding. DVT patients with silent PE at baseline had an increased incidence of symptomatic PE events during the first 15 days of anticoagulant therapy. This effect disappeared after 3 months of anticoagulation.

Silent Pulmonary Embolism in Patients with Lower Limb Deep Vein Thrombosis

Abstract 2306 Background:One in every three patients with deep vein thrombosis (DVT) may have silent pulmonary embolism (PE), but its clinical relevance has not been thoroughly studied. Methods: We used the RIETE Registry data to compare the clinical characteristics, diagnostic tests, and 3-month outcome in 842 patients with proximal DVT in the lower limbs and silent PE at baseline, 1533 with DVT without PE, and 585 patients with DVT and symptomatic PE. Results: On admission, a minority of DVT patients (with or without silent PE) presented with hypoxemia (9.0% vs. 6.4%, respectively), or typical PE signs on the chest X-ray (25% vs. 22%) or electrocardiogram (23% vs. 17%). Patients with symptomatic PE more frequently presented with hypoxemia (30%) or had PE signs on the chest X-ray (41%) or electrocardiogram (37%). After the initial 15 days of follow up the incidence of PE was higher among patients with DVT and silent PE compared to those with symptomatic PE (0.95% vs. 0.17%).During the first 90 days of anticoagulant therapy, patients with DVT without PE had a lower incidence of recurrent PE than bleeding (1.0% and 2.9%, respectively). Of note, an excessive risk for bleeding was observed during the first 2 weeks of therapy among patients without PE. Incidence of recurrent PE and major bleeding was similar in DVT patients with silent PE (1.8% and 1.9%) and in those with symptomatic PE (2.6% and 2.7%). Conclusions: Most DVT patients with silent PE have no hypoxemia, chest X-ray signs or electrocardiographic evidence suggestive of embolism. Frequency of recurrent PE was higher among patients with silent PE at the initial 15 days of follow up. In contrast to other subgroups, in DVT patients without PE at baseline, the incidence of major bleeding far exceeded that of PE development during follow up. Disclosures:No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

Silent Pulmonary Embolism in Patients with Deep Vein Thrombosis: A Systematic Review

Autopsy reports have shown that as clinicians we under-diagnose or fail to suspect pulmonary embolism (PE) in many of our patients. There have been several studies in the literature that indicate that the prevalence of PE in patients with diagnosed deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is quite high. This study combined data from 28 previous studies on silent PEs to estimate the incidence of PEs among patients with diagnosed DVTs. The authors of this study found that>30% of patients with DVTs without pulmonary complaints had positive diagnostic studies for PE.

High Frequency of Silent Pulmonary Embolism in Patients With Cryptogenic Stroke and Patent Foramen Ovale

Deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism (PE) prove venous embolic activity and enforce the suspicion of paradoxical embolism in patients with stroke with patent foramen ovale. Because it has implications in secondary prevention, we investigated the frequency of silent PE in such a cohort of patients. Patients with cryptogenic stroke or transient ischemic attack and patent foramen ovale who underwent a ventilation perfusion scintigraphy were identified from a stroke registry. Blinded from clinical data, ventilation perfusion scintigraphy scans were re-evaluated independently by 2 experts. Patients showing at least a subsegmental defect were considered as having silent PE. Factors potentially associated with PE were analyzed. The evaluation included 151 patients. Median age was 55.2 years and 59.9% were male. In 56 (37%) patients, silent PE was found; a deep vein thrombosis was evident in 11 (7%) patients. Atrial septal aneurysm was identified in 39 patients and hypermobile atrial septum in 37 patients. Atrial septal aneurysm and hypermobile atrial septum were independently associated with PE. In females, intake of oral contraceptives showed certain association with PE (6 of 25 versus 3 of 40; P=0.07). Silent PE frequently occurs in patients with cryptogenic stroke and patent foramen ovale, particularly when atrial septal aneurysm or hypermobile atrial septum are present.

Silent Pulmonary Embolism in Patients with Deep Venous Thrombosis: A Systematic Review

Purpose To determine, by systematic review of the literature, the prevalence of silent pulmonary embolism in patients with deep venous thrombosis. Methods Twenty-eight included published investigations were identified through PubMed. Studies were selected if methods of diagnosis of pulmonary embolism were described; if pulmonary embolism was stated to be asymptomatic; and if raw data were presented. Studies were stratified according to whether silent pulmonary embolism was diagnosed by a high-probability ventilation-perfusion lung scan using criteria from the Prospective Investigation of Pulmonary Embolism Diagnosis, computed tomography pulmonary angiography, or conventional pulmonary angiography (Tier 1), or by lung scans based on non-Prospective Investigation of Pulmonary Embolism Diagnosis criteria (Tier 2). Results Silent pulmonary embolism was diagnosed in 1665 of 5233 patients (32%) with deep venous thrombosis. This is a conservative estimate because many of the investigations used stringent criteria for the diagnosis of pulmonary embolism. The incidence of silent pulmonary embolism was higher with proximal deep venous thrombosis than with distal deep venous thrombosis. Silent pulmonary embolism seemed to increase the risk of recurrent pulmonary embolism: 25 of 488 (5.1%) with silent pulmonary embolism versus 7 of 1093 (0.6%) without silent pulmonary embolism. Conclusion Silent pulmonary embolism sometimes involved central pulmonary arteries. Because approximately one third of patients with deep venous thrombosis have silent pulmonary embolism, routine screening for pulmonary embolism may be advantageous.

Prospective Study on the Usefulness of Lung Scan in Patients with Deep Vein Thrombosis of the Lower Limbs

Asymptomatic pulmonary embolism (PE) is a common finding in patients with deep venous thrombosis (DVT) of the lower limbs, but the usefulness of seeking for silent PE in patients with acute DVT has not been evaluated. This was a prospective study involving consecutive patients with acute symptomatic proximal DVT (confirmed by objective methods) and no clinical suspicion of PE. All patients underwent chest X-ray, ventilation-perfusion lung scan and arterial blood gases on admission, and received anticoagulant therapy. Those with scintigraphic evidence of PE underwent repeated lung scan and blood gases 7 days later. The aim of the study was to assess how many patients with silent PE develop symptoms while on heparin therapy, and in how many of them such symptoms are due to recurrent PE. 946 consecutive patients with acute, proximal DVT had no contraindications to full-dose anticoagulant therapy. Baseline lung scan revealed high-probability defects (silent PE) in 200 (21%). Seven of these 200 patients had symptomatic recurrences during the 7-day study period, and an inferior vena cava filter was inserted. Besides, 6 patients developed PE symptoms, but no new perfusion defects were found on repeated scan. They switched to coumarin therapy, and they did not develop any further complications. Lung scan in patients with symptomatic DVT and no clinical suspicion of PE may be useful, since some patients with silent PE may develop symptoms while on heparin therapy. Without a baseline scintigraphy all these patients would have been considered to have recurrent PE, and vena cava interruption could have been performed.

Unexpected high prevalence of silent pulmonary embolism in patients with deep venous thrombosis

Unexpected high prevalence of silent pulmonary embolism in patients with deep venous thrombosis

Unexpected High Prevalence of Silent Pulmonary Embolism in Patients with Deep Venous Thrombosis

In patients presenting with clinically suspected deep vein thrombosis, symptomatic pulmonary embolism is rarely apparent. To assess the prevalence of silent pulmonary embolism in outpatients with proven deep vein thrombosis but without symptoms of pulmonary embolism, perfusion ventilation lung scans were performed in 101 consecutive patients at presentation. Fifty-one percent of these patients had a high probability lung scan at the initiation of treatment. In comparison, in patients referred with suspected venous thrombosis, but who on subsequent objective testing did not have venous thrombosis (n = 44), the prevalence of a high probability-scan for pulmonary embolus was only 5 percent. At repeat lung scanning, performed after one week of anticoagulant treatment, complete to partial improvement was observed in 68 percent of the patients with initially abnormal scans. Lung-scan detected asymptomatic pulmonary embolism occurs frequently in patients presenting with symptomatic deep venous thrombosis, and the majority of these emboli showed significant to complete resolution within one week of anticoagulant treatment.