Tuberc Respir Dis.  1984 Jun;31(2):48-56. 10.4046/trd.1984.31.2.48.

Clinical Study of Pulmonary Embolism(PE)

• KMID: 2528778
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4046/trd.1984.31.2.48

Abstract

The clinical records of 50 cases of, PE at Seoul National University Hospital during the period of April, 1979 to December, 1981 were reviewed. The results are as follows. 1) PE was seen most freguently among the age group of less than 30 years of age (42% ). Male to female ratio was 1 : 1. 1. 2) The sources of emboli were deep veins of lower extremities (28% ), right heart (8% ), pelvic veins (6%) and inferior vena cavae (6%). 3) The identifiable risk factors ￦ ere congestive heart failure (56%), immobility (38% ) and age over 50 years old (26%). 4) The main clinical symptoms were dyspnea (60% ) , chest pain or discomfort (50% ), and hemoptysis (28%). The major physical findings were tachypnea over 16/min (88% ) and elevated body temperature over 37.8℃ (42 %). 5) The serum LDH levels were elevated in 80%. 6) The EKG's of PE shoπed normal in 18% and ST-T abnormalities in 64%. The chest X-ray’s shoπed normal findings in 14% and cardiac enlargement in 60%. 7) The pulmonary perfusion scan findings were bilateral, multiple perfusion defects in 62% and single defect in 12%. 8) The initial therapeutic modalities of PE were intravenous infusion of heparin in 40% (20 cases) which were complicated by the major hemorrhage in 15% (3 cases). 9) The long-term follow-up beyond 6 months was done in 50% (25 cases) which revealed the recurrence of PE in 12% (3 cases). The fatality of this study group during & around hospitalization was 22% (11 cases)and among them, 5 patients probably died of PE.