Pulmonary embolism in the elderly

The article was professionally consulted by Specialist Doctor I Do Van Manh - Emergency Medicine Doctor - Emergency Resuscitation Department - Vinmec Ha Long International General Hospital.

Pulmonary embolism is a medical emergency, especially in the elderly, if not diagnosed and treated promptly, the mortality rate is very high. In Vietnam, pulmonary embolism has gradually become more common than before thanks to the diagnostic method by contrast angiography.

Pulmonary embolism is a pulmonary embolism usually caused by a blood clot from the deep veins of the lower extremities. A thrombus that has ruptured and is floating freely in a blood vessel can travel to other areas of the body and cause a blood vessel blockage there. When there is a thrombus in the vein, it will travel from the vein to the right heart and then into the main pulmonary artery and occur obstruction or hemodynamic will continue to travel into one of the lungs.
Pulmonary embolism is a venous thromboembolism disease, which is one of the three leading cardiovascular causes of death after stroke and myocardial infarction. In Vietnam, the diagnosis of pulmonary embolism has become easier thanks to contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) of the lungs. Early diagnosis of pulmonary embolism will help the treatment process to be effective.

In the elderly, there are often complicated diseases, most patients have a combination of other medical and surgical diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, coronary artery disease, chronic lung disease, prolonged immobilization , have major surgery, severe infection, hemiplegia, stroke, ... and increase the risk of pulmonary embolism.
Besides, pulmonary embolism symptoms are not specific and very diverse, often confused with those of other medical diseases. Therefore, the diagnosis of pulmonary embolism in the elderly faces many difficulties. The doctor needs to find out the clinical signs that indicate the severity of the patient's severity, such as prolonged hypotension, shock, dyspnea, chest pain, tachycardia,... Pumped chest computed tomography Contrast is currently the main imaging modality in the diagnosis of pulmonary embolism.
For the treatment of pulmonary embolism, it is recommended that all patients remain on effective anticoagulation for at least 3 months. Treatment can be extended up to 6 months or 12 months for patients with persistent embolism or other risk factors such as cancer or unknown etiology. In addition, it is necessary to apply mechanical precautions without using drugs such as wearing pressure socks, intermittent pressure inflation, ... also play an important role. The doctor will assess the risk on each patient with each specific disease to come up with effective prevention methods.

In summary, pulmonary embolism is a medical emergency, especially in the elderly, if not diagnosed and treated promptly, the mortality rate is very high. Therefore, in order to prevent the risk of pulmonary embolism in the elderly, it is necessary to have regular check-ups, especially in patients with underlying medical conditions, to be examined by a doctor and consulted on preventive treatments for edema. fit.
Patients need to go to a reputable hospital to conduct examination and treatment as soon as there are signs of pulmonary embolism. Currently, Vinmec International General Hospital is one of the leading prestigious hospitals in the country, trusted by a large number of patients for medical examination and treatment. Not only the physical system, modern equipment: 6 ultrasound rooms, 4 DR X-ray rooms (1 full-axis machine, 1 light machine, 1 general machine and 1 mammography machine) , 2 DR portable X-ray machines, 2 multi-row CT scanner rooms (1 128 rows and 1 16 arrays), 2 Magnetic resonance imaging rooms (1 3 Tesla and 1 1.5 Tesla), 1 room for 2 levels of interventional angiography and 1 room to measure bone mineral density.... Vinmec is also the place to gather a team of experienced doctors and nurses who will greatly assist in diagnosis and detection. early signs of abnormality in the patient's body. In particular, with a space designed according to 5-star hotel standards, Vinmec ensures to bring the patient the most comfort, friendliness and peace of mind.