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.