Deciding Whether to Anticoagulate a Patient with Isolated Subsegmental PE?

A systematic review found no evidence for or against anticoagulation in these patients.

Although anticoagulation is typically used to treat patients with central and segmental pulmonary emboli (PE), deep vein thromboses (DVTs), or both, controversy exists around its use in patients with isolated (i.e., no associated DVT) subsegmental PE. In a systematic review and meta-analysis, investigators sought to inform this controversy by searching for evidence regarding the potential risks (bleeding) and benefits (prevention of PE/DVT recurrence or death) of anticoagulation in these patients.

A total of 14 studies involving 15,563 patients were included. The pooled prevalence of subsegmental PE was 4.6%. Of the 715 patients with subsegmental PE, 82% were treated with anticoagulants. The incidence of bleeding was only reported for antico…

Reviewing Author

Ali S. Raja, MD, MBA, MPH

Disclosures

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesSociety for Academic Emergency Medicine (Board Member); American College of Healthcare Executives – Massachusetts (Board Member)

Ali S. Raja, MD, MBA, MPH

Disclosures

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesSociety for Academic Emergency Medicine (Board Member); American College of Healthcare Executives – Massachusetts (Board Member)

Deciding Whether to Anticoagulate a Patient with Isolated Subsegmental PE?

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Reviewing Author