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Stein PD, Matta F, Hughes PG, Hourmouzis ZN, Hourmouzis NP, White RM, Ghiardi MM, Schwartz MA, Moore HL, Bach JA, Schweiss RE, Kazan VM, Kakish EJ, Keyes DC, Hughes MJ. Home Treatment of Pulmonary Embolism in the Era of Novel Oral Anticoagulants. Am J Med 2016; 129:974-7. [PMID: 27107921 DOI: 10.1016/j.amjmed.2016.03.035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2016] [Revised: 03/28/2016] [Accepted: 03/28/2016] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Outpatient therapy of patients with acute pulmonary embolism has been shown to be safe in carefully selected patients. Problems related to the injection of low-molecular-weight heparin at home can be overcome by use of novel oral anticoagulants. The purpose of this investigation is to assess the prevalence of home treatment in the era of novel oral anticoagulants. METHODS This was a retrospective cohort study of patients aged ≥18 years with acute pulmonary embolism seen in 5 emergency departments from January 2013 to December 2014. RESULTS Pulmonary embolism was diagnosed in 983 patients. Among these, 237 were considered ineligible for home treatment because of instability or hypoxia. Home treatment was selected for 13 of 746 (1.7%) patients who were potentially eligible. Anticoagulant treatment for those treated at home was low-molecular-weight heparin or warfarin in 9 (69.2%) and novel oral anticoagulants in 4 (30.8%). Hospitalization was chosen for 733 of 746 (98.3%). Discharge in ≤2 days was in 119 patients (16.2%). Treatment of these patients was low-molecular-weight heparin or warfarin in 76 (63.9%), novel oral anticoagulants in 34 (28.6%), and in 9 (7.6%), anticoagulants were not given because of metastatic cancer or treatment was not known. CONCLUSION Even in the era of novel oral anticoagulants, the vast majority of patients with acute pulmonary embolism were hospitalized, and only a small proportion were discharged in ≤2 days. Although home treatment has been found to be safe in carefully selected patients, and scoring systems have been derived to identify those at low risk of adverse events, home treatment was infrequently selected.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul D Stein
- Department of Osteopathic Medical Specialties, College of Osteopathic Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing.
| | - Fadi Matta
- Department of Osteopathic Medical Specialties, College of Osteopathic Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing
| | - Patrick G Hughes
- Department of Osteopathic Medical Specialties, College of Osteopathic Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing; Department of Medical Education, Summa Akron City Hospital, Ohio; Department of Emergency Medicine, McLaren Oakland Hospital, Pontiac, Mich
| | - Zak N Hourmouzis
- Department of Medical Education, Summa Akron City Hospital, Ohio
| | | | - Rachel M White
- Department of Osteopathic Medical Specialties, College of Osteopathic Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing; Department of Emergency Medicine, Sparrow Health System, Lansing, Mich
| | - Martina M Ghiardi
- Department of Emergency Medicine, McLaren Oakland Hospital, Pontiac, Mich
| | - Matthew A Schwartz
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Toledo Medical Center, Ohio
| | - Hillary L Moore
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Toledo Medical Center, Ohio
| | - Jennifer A Bach
- Department of Emergency Medicine, St. Mary Mercy Hospital, Livonia, Mich
| | - Robert E Schweiss
- Department of Emergency Medicine, St. Mary Mercy Hospital, Livonia, Mich
| | - Viviane M Kazan
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Toledo Medical Center, Ohio
| | - Edward J Kakish
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Toledo Medical Center, Ohio
| | - Daniel C Keyes
- Department of Osteopathic Medical Specialties, College of Osteopathic Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing; Department of Emergency Medicine, St. Mary Mercy Hospital, Livonia, Mich
| | - Mary J Hughes
- Department of Osteopathic Medical Specialties, College of Osteopathic Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing; Department of Emergency Medicine, Sparrow Health System, Lansing, Mich
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