Pulmonary embolism prevention in out-patients with malignancies during the first year of follow-up

Aim. To decrease the one-year mortality rate in out-patients with malignancies undergoing periodic health examination.

Methods. The study included 270 patients, who were examined and followed up. The main group included 140 patients, who monthly underwent ultrasonography of inferior vena cava branches during the first year of follow-up. The control group included 130 patients, in whom ultrasonography of inferior vena cava branches was performed only if clinical manifestations of venous thrombosis were registered.

Results. Venous thrombosis was diagnosed in 35 patients of the main group, including 21 cases of venous thrombosis at very high risk for embolism. In control group, ultrasonography of inferior vena cava branches was performed in 13 patients who developed clinical manifestations of venous thromboembolic events, in whom 6 patients were diagnosed with deep vein thrombosis of the lower limbs, in 3 patients venous thrombosis was assessed as at very high risk for embolism. In 24 patients (21 in the main group and 3 in the control group), targeted measures to prevent pulmonary embolism were administered, including cava filter implantation, vein ligation above the venous thrombosis at very high risk for embolism site, and crossectomy. The rest of the patients were administered conservative prevention of thromboembolism. In the main group, no deaths associated with pulmonary embolism were registered. In the control group, 19 patients died due to developing pulmonary embolism.

Conclusion. Preventive measures for pulmonary embolism, selected according to the results of timely ultrasound diagnosis of venous thrombosis, may reduce the one-year mortality rate in patients with cancer.