Risk factors of pulmonary thromboembolism in patients from a university hospital.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the impact of risk factors in the diagnosis of pulmonary thromboembolism.

METHODS

This was a retrospective study of 295 patients with suspicion of pulmonary embolism (PE), of whom 154 were referred from outpatient and 141 from inpatient departments for a period of 24 months (2000-2001) in Hacettepe University Hospital in Ankara.

RESULTS

Pulmonary thromboembolism was diagnosed in 71 patients (24.1%) with high probability ventilation/perfusion scintigraphy. Chronic renal failure, trauma, history of pulmonary thromboembolism and type of care were significantly associated with pulmonary thromboembolism, after adjusting for age and gender.

CONCLUSION

This retrospective study revealed that clinicians should keep PTE in mind, especially in the presence of risk factors. Ventilation/perfusion scintigraphy has been the procedure of choice for the assessment of patients with suspected PE.