Pulmonary embolism in a patient in dual antiplatelet therapy after placement of a drug-eluting stent

Embolia polmonare in paziente in duplice terapia antipiastrinica per posizionamento di DES

Abstract

Venous thromboembolism (VTE), including deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism (PE), is the third most frequent cardiovascular disease and is characterized by high mortality and disability rate. According to the 2014 European Society of Cardiology guidelines for the treatment of PE, anticoagulant therapy is recommended in patients with acute PE for a period of at least 3 months in order to prevent both early mortality and recurrence of VTE. To date, there are no studies conducted on the triple antithrombotic therapy in patients with VTE subjected to percutaneous coronary interventions. We report the case of an elderly patient in dual antiplatelet therapy following coronary revascularization and stenting. The patient, following an episode of PE with cardiac arrest after 12 days of hospitalization, was successfully treated with anticoagulant therapy with dabigatran in association with the dual antiplatelet therapy already in place (Cardiology).