Early pulmonary embolism after injury: a different clinical entity?

BACKGROUND

We sought to characterize pulmonary embolism (PE) occurring early after injury. We hypothesized that early PE may represent a different clinical entity than those occurring later in the post-injury period.

METHODS

All trauma patients diagnosed with PE from 2005 to 2010 were examined. PEs diagnosed within 72h of admission were compared against those occurring later.

RESULTS

19 out of 54 PEs were diagnosed early. Early PE patients had a higher rate of lower extremity fractures, a lower mean injury severity score, and a lower average length of stay. Early PE patients had a shorter average time to start of chemical prophylaxis, were less likely to have had a femoral line, and less likely to have operative intervention under general anaesthesia.

CONCLUSIONS

Early PE after trauma may occur with different underlying pathophysiology than previously thought. Further study is indicated as this has implications concerning the prevention of PE in trauma patients.