Medical therapy for pulmonary embolism (PE) includes anticoagulation therapy and fibrinolytic therapy.  Parenteral anticoagulation therapy with either unfractionated heparin, low molecular weight heparin (LMWH), or fondaparinux is indicated in the initial treatment of patients with PE who do not have any contraindications for anticoagulation.  Initial parenteral anticoagulation therapy should be started before the completion of the diagnostic workup among patients who have a high pretest probability of PE as well as among those with intermediate pretest probability of PE and an expected delay in the diagnostic results of more than 4 hours. Thrombolytic therapy is indicated for the treatment of massive PE, also known as high-risk PE.  Patients with PE require long term anticoagulation therapy with agents such as vitamin K antagonists, LMWH, dabigatran, or rivaroxaban.
The need for treatment of subsegmental pulmonary emboli is uncertain.
Pulmonary embolism medical therapy
Air embolism medical therapy
Pulmonary edema medical therapy
Pulmonary edema interventional therapy
Pulmonary hypertension medical therapy
Pericardial effusion treatment
Pleural effusion medical therapy
Cardiomegaly medical therapy