Pulmonary Embolism News and Research

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A pulmonary embolism is a sudden blockage in a lung artery. The cause is usually a blood clot in the leg called a deep vein thrombosis that breaks loose and travels through the bloodstream to the lung.

Caprini Risk Model helps predict VTE risk in patients undergoing plastic surgery

Patients undergoing plastic or reconstructive surgery should receive a risk assessment before their procedure to predict whether they'll develop potentially fatal blood clots in the legs or lungs, according to research at the University of Michigan Medical School. Researchers also found that 1 in 9 patients at highest risk based on that assessment will develop clots if not given clot-preventing medications after surgery.

19 Nov 2010

MEDRAD to offer RSNA attendees hands-on demonstration on P3T PA software

MEDRAD will offer RSNA attendees hands-on demonstrations of personalized-protocol software that individualizes CT Pulmonary Angiography (CTPA) contrast dosing, and has proven to increase the percentage of diagnostic-quality studies to rule out Pulmonary Embolism (PE) when compared to the institution's standard protocol potentially obviating the need to rescan the patient.

18 Nov 2010

Merck announces FDA Advisory Committee approval of GARDASIL for anal cancer and AIN treatment

Merck announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee has advised that the data presented support an indication for GARDASIL® [Human Papillomavirus Quadrivalent (Types 6, 11, 16, and 18) Vaccine, Recombinant] for the prevention of anal cancer and anal intraepithelial neoplasia (AIN) in both males and females 9 through 26 years of age.

18 Nov 2010

Warfarin taken along with herbal, dietary supplements may be dangerous

Herbal and dietary supplements are popular. People claim they make their joints feel better, their bones stronger, and their hearts healthier. But a recent study by researchers at the Intermountain Medical Center Heart Institute in Salt Lake City shows that many of these people may not realize their favorite supplement, mixed with prescription medications, may be putting their lives in danger, especially if they are taking warfarin - a blood-thinning medication commonly prescribed to patients living with atrial fibrillation to lower their risk of stroke.

17 Nov 2010

Researchers hope to prevent VTE complication in cancer patients

A major study is under way at The University of Nottingham which could lead to better prevention of a serious and sometimes fatal complication in cancer patients.

12 Nov 2010

Covidien granted FDA 510(k) clearance for Kendall SCD Sleeve and Kendall SCD 700 Series Controller

Covidien, a leading global provider of healthcare products and recognized innovator in intermittent pneumatic compression (IPC), today announced 510(k) clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the Kendall SCD™ Sequential Compression Comfort Sleeve and Kendall SCD™ 700 Series Controller. The new system will be launched next month in the U.S. and will deliver an improved level of comfort for patients, while reducing the risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE).

4 Nov 2010

Venous Disease Coalition launches new VTE Toolkit for health professionals

The Vascular Disease Foundation's Venous Disease Coalition announced the launch of its new VTE Toolkit, A Practical Overview for Health Professionals. This toolkit was developed by the Venous Disease Coalition (VDC).

28 Oct 2010

New national campaign to drive awareness on DVT and PE prevention in women

As many as 600,000 people are affected by deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE) every year, and more than half of those are never diagnosed. Some people experience swelling and varying levels of discomfort in the affected area, and some don't feel anything at all. But the symptoms of DVT can be similar to other conditions, like a pulled muscle, and because some people with DVT do not have any symptoms, there is often a delay in diagnosis. That's when DVT can be fatal.

28 Oct 2010

ENDOMETRIN Vaginal Insert offers effective luteal support in IVF procedures

Ferring Pharmaceuticals Inc. presented study results demonstrating that ENDOMETRIN (progesterone) Vaginal Insert provides effective luteal support compared to intramuscular (IM) progesterone-in-oil (PIO) in patients undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF) using gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) antagonist.

27 Oct 2010

Gene therapy may reverse pulmonary hypertension

A Heart and Stroke Foundation researcher has discovered what could be the first truly effective breakthrough in the diagnosis and treatment of pulmonary hypertension, a devastating, life-threatening condition which results in an enlargement of the heart.

25 Oct 2010

ACS NSQIP recognizes Christiana Care Health System as participating hospital

The American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS NSQIP) has recognized Christiana Care Health System as one of 26 ACS NSQIP participating hospitals in the United States that have achieved exemplary outcomes for surgical patient care.

20 Oct 2010

Hospital mortality rates decline by 7.98% from 2007 to 2009

A new independent study by HealthGrades of patient outcomes at America's hospitals found that patients at 5-star rated hospitals had a 72% lower risk of dying when compared with patients at 1-star-rated hospitals -- an enormous gap that has held steady over the past years even as overall mortality rates have improved.

20 Oct 2010

FDA approves Gamunex-C for primary immunodeficiency treatment

Talecris Biotherapeutics announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Gamunex-C (Immune Globulin Injection [Human], 10% Caprylate/Chromatography Purified) for subcutaneous administration in the treatment of primary immunodeficiency (PI).

15 Oct 2010

Covidien to showcase innovative surgical products at 96th ACS Clinical Congress

Covidien, a leading global provider of healthcare products, will preview new devices and showcase some of the Company's most innovative products at the 96th Annual Clinical Congress of the American College of Surgeons.

5 Oct 2010

Breast cancer incidence drops, linked to decline in HRT use

A new Canadian study shows that a significant drop in breast cancer incidence among post-menopausal women from 2002 to 2004 coincided with a sharp drop in hormone replacement therapy (HRT) use during the same period. This is the first study to show the link between HRT use and breast cancer among Canadian women.

24 Sep 2010

Antipsychotics slightly raise risk for blood clots

Antipsychotics or medications that are used to treat psychiatric illnesses such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder are reported to raise the risk of dangerous blood clots.

23 Sep 2010

Study identifies venous thromboembolism risk factors after THR surgery

Risk factors for venous thromboembolism after total hip replacement (THR) surgery were identified in a new study published in the September 2010 issue of The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery (JBJS). While the rate of thromboembolism has been significantly reduced through medication, understanding the risk factors could further reduce the likelihood of patients developing this potentially fatal complication.

17 Sep 2010

NBCA arms healthcare professionals to 'Stop the Clot'

The National Blood Clot Alliance (NBCA) is making available an easily accessible, no-cost online curriculum for nurses, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and pharmacists to help increase understanding about the diagnosis and treatment of blood clots and blood clotting disorders.

15 Sep 2010

Researchers find risk prediction model for VTE in cancer patients

For cancer patients, who have an increased risk of developing venous thromboembolism (VTE) due to a hyperactive blood coagulation system, there is now an enhanced risk model to predict their chance of developing blood clots, according to a recent study published today in Blood, the journal of the American Society of Hematology.

10 Sep 2010

Octapharma announces new study of IVIG in chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy

Octapharma AG today announced the imminent start of the biggest ever study of an intravenous immunoglobulin preparation (IVIG) in chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy (CIDP).

8 Sep 2010