Pulmonary Embolism
Posted in Cardiology on June 15, 2010 by m.khodeer
Pulmonary Embolism
Acute pulmonary embolism is associated with siginficant morbidity and mortality causing 120,000 deaths/year in United States.Types:
- Incomplete infarction: hemorrhagic pulmonary edema without tissue necrosis; resolution within days.
- Complete infraction: tissue necrosis; healing by scar formation
Risk Factors:
- Immobilization for 72 hours (55% of pts with proven PTE have this risk factor).
- Recent hip surgery, 40%.
- Cardic Disease, 30%.
- Malignancy, 20%.
- Estrogen Use (prostate cancer, contraceptives) 6%.
- Prior DVT, 20%.
Imaging and PTE :
- CT: More than 90% of CT scans are sensetive and specific for large central emboli, less so for peripheral emboli.
- Angiography: High sensitivity and Specifity. Gold standard for imaging diagnosis.
- Scintigraphy.
