Pulmonary embolism

Also known as: PE · VTE

Also relevant to RespiratoryAlso relevant to Hematology & Oncology

United StatesACC/AHA

Current

Antithrombotic Therapy for VTE Disease: Second Update of the CHEST Guideline and Expert Panel Report (2021)

CHEST (ACCP) · 2021 · 2021 (Second Update)

The current US antithrombotic-therapy guidance for venous thromboembolism, from the American College of Chest Physicians. It updates the 2016 CHEST guideline.

Recommends direct oral anticoagulants over vitamin K antagonists for VTE without associated cancer. source
Frames therapy as an initiation phase, a 3-month treatment phase, and an extended phase for selected patients. source

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EuropeESC

Current

2019 ESC Guidelines for the diagnosis and management of acute pulmonary embolism

ESC (with ERS) · 2019

The current European guideline for acute pulmonary embolism, developed with the European Respiratory Society. It centres on risk stratification to guide treatment intensity.

Uses validated risk stratification (e.g. clinical scores, RV assessment, biomarkers) to guide management. source
Recommends direct oral anticoagulants as first-line therapy for most patients without contraindications. source

Verify against original ↗

US vs EU key differences

Both the US (CHEST 2021) and EU (ESC 2019) guidance favour direct oral anticoagulants over vitamin K antagonists for most non-cancer VTE. source
The US CHEST document is a focused antithrombotic-therapy guideline; the ESC guideline is broader, covering diagnosis and risk stratification of acute PE as well as treatment. source

What changed recently

No recorded changes yet for this disease.

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