Why we do this: Prompt treatment of a serious pulmonary embolism can mean the difference between life and death. That is why the LUMC has the Acute Pulmonary Embolism Response Team (ALERT), which is available to patients 24/7. The LUMC is one of the few hospitals in the Netherlands that has the most modern treatments for pulmonary embolism patients. Since 2020, 150 patients have already been helped.
What is a pulmonary embolism? In an acute pulmonary embolism, a blood clot ends up in the pulmonary artery. This blocks the blood flow to the lungs. Patients with a pulmonary embolism may have the following complaints:
- Shortness of breath
- Pain in the chest or when breathing
- Coughing up blood
In the case of a serious pulmonary embolism, the heart has great difficulty pumping blood through the lungs. Acute heart failure develops. In such a case, patients may:
- Pass out
- Developing low blood pressure
- Going into cardiac arrest
What makes the LUMC unique: Because the ALERT is always on standby, personalized treatment can be achieved very quickly. This always happens in close consultation. On average, the team meets almost once a week for a patient with severe pulmonary embolism. The specialists participating in the consultation are:
- Internist (specialism: internal organs)
- Intensivist (speciality: intensive care)
- Cardiologist (speciality: heart)
- Cardiothorocal surgeon (speciality: heart, lungs and chest)
- Pulmonologist (speciality: respiratory system)
This combination of specializations means that we have all the knowledge and experience on board to coordinate every detail of a treatment quickly and properly. This means that optimal treatment can begin as quickly as possible and the patient ends up in the right department.
What we offer patients: The standard treatment for pulmonary embolism is to administer a blood thinner. But in the case of a serious blood clot, that is not always enough. In some situations, the clot must be removed immediately. Traditionally, this was done with an IV with clot-dissolving medication.
New treatments are possible at the LUMC, where blood clots in the pulmonary artery can be removed or dissolved more quickly by means of cardiac catheterization (via the groin). These techniques are safer than clot-dissolving medications because the risk of serious bleeding is lower. There is also the option of surgically removing the blood clot or connecting a mobile heart-lung machine to temporarily support blood flow in the body.
After patients have been helped and allowed to go home, the LUMC continues to monitor them. They complete questionnaires about the course of their complaints and symptoms, the results of which are used to tailor control visits and, if necessary, rehabilitation individually to the patient.
More about ALERT:
- The ALERT delivers topzorg to patients with severe pulmonary embolism.
- The team shares knowledge with other hospitals. The specialists work closely with colleagues in Delft, The Hague, Gouda and Leiderdorp and they regularly provide education to colleagues in the Netherlands.
- In addition, it leads ALERT Research to new treatment techniques.
- Finally, the team has a European network (EXPERT-PE) for other ALERT teams and is internationally involved in developing guidelines to treat pulmonary embolism.
2023-12-18 16:07:30
#good #hands #acute #care #patients #pulmonary #embolism #LUMC
