PE? Check… But What’s Next? Ideal Follow-up Post-PE

Written by Bo Stubblefield

Spoon Feed
The European Society of Cardiology (ESC) has generated a position detailing optimal follow-up of patients following acute pulmonary embolism (PE). They advocate for a holistic approach with consideration of both short- and long-term events encountered by patients diagnosed with acute PE.

Why does this matter?
Patients with acute PE are a heterogenous population. They require individualized therapies both at presentation and during long-term follow up. This position paper complements the formal 2019 ESC Guidelines.¹ Recommendations in this position paper include management of bleeding risk, treatment of PE in women, cancer and thrombophilia screening, sport, lifestyle, and travel considerations, assessment of cardiovascular risk factors, and management of post-PE syndrome.

PE? Check. Now what?

Here is a break-down of PE management considerations by timeline (Fig 1):

At Diagnosis:

• Rule out absolute contraindications to anticoagulation, optimize anticoagulation strategies, avoid unnecessary interventions .
• Only a limited (age-appropriate) screen for cancer is recommended.

First Weeks:

• Encourage patients to resume regular exercise in a stepwise manner
• Ensure the right ventricle has recovered in size and function before resuming exercise or air travel.
• Do not routinely screen for inherited thrombophilia.
• Consider anti-phospholipid antibody syndrome in patients with unprovoked PE.
• Ensure anticoagulant adherence.
• Continue to screen for modifiable risk factors for bleeding.

3 Months:

• Perform cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) in patients with persistent dyspnea.
• Rule out chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH).
• Consider psychological support.
• Systematically assess general cardiovascular risk factors.

Long Term:

• Limit periods of overlap between antiplatelet and anticoagulant medications in those taking anticoagulation beyond 3 months.
• As many as 40% of survivors have persistent dyspnea at 6-12 months², and 30-50% have persistent functional limitations at 12-24 months.^3,4
• The concept that PE causes persistent symptoms has been noted for decades, but only recently has investigation into the incidence and general mechanism begun. The combination of functional impairment and dyspnea is now called post-PE syndrome.^5-8

Fig 1.

Another Spoonful
Geoff Barnes outlines 10 key points from this position paper on the American College of Cardiology Website.

Still hungry? One more Spoonful…

Check out these reviews to bulk up your knowledge on post-PE syndrome:

• Post-PE syndrome: a new concept for chronic complications of PE
• Late outcomes of PE: The post-PE syndrome

Source
Optimal follow-up after acute pulmonary embolism: a position paper of the European Society of Cardiology Working Group on Pulmonary Circulation and Right Ventricular Function, in collaboration with the European Society of Cardiology Working Group on Atherosclerosis and Vascular Biology, endorsed by the European Respiratory Society. Eur Heart J. 2022 Jan 25;43(3):183-189. doi: 10.1093/eurheartj/ehab816.

Works Cited

1. Konstantinides SV, Meyer G. The 2019 ESC Guidelines on the Diagnosis and Management of Acute Pulmonary Embolism. European heart journal 2019;40:3453-5.
2. Stevinson BG, Hernandez-Nino J, Rose G, Kline JA. Echocardiographic and functional cardiopulmonary problems 6 months after first-time pulmonary embolism in previously healthy patients. European heart journal 2007;28:2517-24.
3. Konstantinides SV, Vicaut E, Danays T, et al. Impact of Thrombolytic Therapy on the Long-Term Outcome of Intermediate-Risk Pulmonary Embolism. Journal of the American College of Cardiology 2017;69:1536-44.
4. Kahn SR, Hirsch AM, Akaberi A, et al. Functional and Exercise Limitations After a First Episode of Pulmonary Embolism: Results of the ELOPE Prospective Cohort Study. Chest 2017;151:1058-68.
5. Boon G, Huisman MV, Klok FA. Determinants and Management of the Post-Pulmonary Embolism Syndrome. Semin Respir Crit Care Med 2021;42:299-307.
6. Klok FA, van der Hulle T, den Exter PL, Lankeit M, Huisman MV, Konstantinides S. The post-PE syndrome: a new concept for chronic complications of pulmonary embolism. Blood Rev 2014;28:221-6.
7. Sista AK, Klok FA. Late outcomes of pulmonary embolism: The post-PE syndrome. Thrombosis research 2018;164:157-62.
8. Benotti JR, Ockene IS, Alpert JS, Dalen JE. The clinical profile of unresolved pulmonary embolism. Chest 1983;84:669-78.