Acute and Chronic Effects of Vasodilators in a Case of Chronic Recurrent Pulmonary Embolism

• Published in: Nihon Kyōbu Shikkan Gakkai zasshi Vol. 29; no. 1; pp. 111 - 117
• Main Authors: Ido, Akira, Hasebe, Naoyuki, Shimizu, Tetsuo, Fukuzawa, Jun, Ohsaki, Junzo, Shimaya, Naoki, Fujita, Yuka, Tsuji, Tadakatsu, Ohki, Yasuo, Sakai, Eiichi, Onodera, Sokichi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Japanese
• Published: Japan The Japanese Respiratory Society 1991
• Subjects: Aged; Chronic Disease; Chronic recurrent pulmonary embolism; Hemodynamics; Humans; Male; Oxygen Inhalation Therapy; Oxygen therapy; Pulmonary Embolism - drug therapy; Pulmonary Embolism - physiopathology; Recurrence; Thrombolytic Therapy; Tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA); Tissue Plasminogen Activator - therapeutic use; Vasodilator; Vasodilator Agents - therapeutic use
• ISSN: 0301-1542; 1883-471X
• DOI: 10.11389/jjrs1963.29.111

A 65-year-old man was admitted to our hospital because of shortness of breath on exertion. As the results of examinations including pulmonary angiography, pulmonary perfusion scan and pulmonary ventilation scan, we diagnosed the case as chronic recurrent pulmonary embolism. Although the patient received thrombolytic therapy by a tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA), there was no noticeable improvement. However, oxygen and vasodilator therapy had marked effective on the hemodynamics. In chronic pulmonary embolism, vasodilators are generally not considered to be effective for improvement of hemodynamics. However, if the acute effects of vasodilators were confirmed, we should try to administer them while paying attention to possible adverse effects.