[The cost of pulmonary thromboembolism treatment]. / Pulmoner tromboemboli tedavisinde maliyet.

INTRODUCTION: Primary aim of this study is to determine the financial burden of Vitamin K Antagonists (VKA), low molecular weight heparins (LMWH) and new oral anticoagulants (NOAC) which are used in the treatment of the pulmonary thromboembolism (PTE). Secondary aim is to show long term complications of the treatment options. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The patients who are diagnosed with PTE between May 2016 and March 2018 at Faculty of Medicine Karadeniz Technical University Hospital were observed prospectively. Hospitalization costs were calculated on patients who were treated only for PTE by hospitalized in the Chest Diseases Service in the acute period. Maintenance costs were calculated over all patients who regulary admitted to our outpatient clinic with the diagnosis of PTE. Data were presented as mean ± SD and median ± interquartilee range. A p-value of <0.05 was accepted to be significant. RESULT: Fifty five (37.2%) of the patients were male, 93 (62.8%) were female and the median age was 68 (range 18-95). The median hospitalization time and cost of patients who are discharged with VKA (n: 22) compared with patients discharged with LMWH (n: 22) was found to be increased (1316.82 TL 7,5 days / 803.36 TL, 5 days p<0.001). Statistical analysis could not be performed with NOAC (n: 2). In the analysis of sixth month costs, LMWH cost was found to be higher than VKA cost (6.927.15 ± 2.687.67 TL/698.29 ± 483.51 TL p<0.001). However VKA treatment tended to be less expensive than treatment with NOACs (698.29 ± 483.51 TL/1.050.81 ± 300.28 TL p= 0.140). CONCLUSIONS: In the acute period of PTE, VKA increases the length of hospitalization and hospital costs in patients treated at the hospital. In the maintenance period, VKA tends to have a lower cost compared to NOACs.

[A rare disease; Erdheim-Chester disease presenting with spontaneous pneumothorax]. / Nadir bir hastalik; spontan pnömotoraks ile basvuran Erdheim-Chester hastaligi.

Erdheim-Chester disease (ECD) is a rare non-Langerhans histiocytosis of unknown etiology, it is characterized by organ infiltration of foamy histiocytes. Diagnosis of ECD involves the analysis of histiocytes in tissue biopsies: these are typically CD68+ CD1a-. These characteristic histiocytes may be found in almost any tissue in cases of ECD. We present an interesting case of ECD that was presented by spontaneous pneumothorax and neurological involvement.

Does the Incidence and Mortality of Pulmonary Thromboembolism Change Over the Years?

OBJECTIVES: In the last 20 years, with the use of computed tomography (CT) angiography, the number of patients diagnosed with pulmonary thromboembolism (PTE) has increased. At the same time, data show that pulmonary embolism mortality has also reduced in this duration. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In this study, we analyzed records of patients with PTE (using ICD's) in the hospital automation system from 2001 to 2013. Data regarding age, sex, date of diagnosis, diagnosis of cancer, hemodynamic status, initial and maintenance treatment, hospital length of stay, and hospital mortality were recorded. Primary endpoints of the study were hospital length of stay and all-cause hospital mortality. RESULTS: The total number of patients included in the study was 1185. The median age was 61 years in 2001 and 71 years in 2013. The number of patients who were diagnosed using CT increased from 10% to 92.8%. Between 2001 and 2013, the number of patients diagnosed with PTE increased, and of all patients with PTE, 13.7% was diagnosed in 2009. The hospital length of stay of 13 days declined to 9 days. The use of a vena cava filter in 2007 was 1.1% and that in 2013 was 4.6%. Mortality rate was 15%, however hospital mortality did not significantly differ over the years but varied between 9.4% and 18.8%. Increased use of thrombolytics in patients with massive PTE has been observed over the years. Massive PTE ratio in 2006 was 8.5% and thrombolytic use was 5.8%, however in 2013, these ratios were 2.6%, 6% respectively (p=0.017). CONCLUSION: Finally, despite the increased number of patients diagnosed with PTE over the years, the mortality rate was not observed to have changed from 2001 to 2013.