EMBOLISM
TREATMENTS |
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Patients with emboli require immediate hospitalization. They are
generally treated with clot-dissolving and/or clot-preventing drugs.
Thrombolytic therapy to dissolve blood clots is the definitive
treatment for a very severe pulmonary embolism. Streptokinase,
urokinase, and recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (TPA) are
used. Heparin is the anticoagulant drug of choice for preventing
formation of blood clots. Warfarin, an oral anticoagulant, is
sometimes used concurrently and is usually continued after the
hospitalization.
In the case of an arterial embolism, the affected limb is placed in
a dependent position and kept warm. Embolectomy is the treatment of
choice in the majority of early cases of arterial emboli in the
extremities. In this procedure, a balloon-tipped catheter is
inserted into the artery to remove thromboembolic matter.
With a pulmonary embolism, oxygen therapy is often used to maintain
normal oxygen concentrations. For people who can't take
anticoagulants and in some other cases, surgery may be needed to
insert a device that filters blood returning to the heart and lungs. |
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| EMBOLISM RELATED ITEMS |
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