Pulmonary embolism history and symptoms
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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1] Associate Editors-in-Chief: Ujjwal Rastogi, MBBS [2]
Synonyms and keywords: PE
Overview
Pulmonary embolism is frequently asymptomatic. Prospective Investigation Of Pulmonary Embolism Diagnosis Study (PIOPED) found the following symptoms in 97% of patients with angiographic proven PE[1].
The absence of this triad reduces the clinical probability of PE. Symptoms or signs of lower extremity deep venous thrombosis (DVT) can also be present in the patient.
History & Symptoms
Three major clinical presentations:
- Dyspnea with or without pleuritic chest pain and hemoptysis
- Hemodynamic instability and syncope (associated with massive pulmonary embolism)
- In the elderly, it may mimick as indolent pneumonia or heart failure.
Thus, the symptoms are highly variable, nonspecific, and common among patients with and without PE
References
- ↑ Stein PD, Beemath A, Matta F, Weg JG, Yusen RD, Hales CA; et al. (2007). "Clinical characteristics of patients with acute pulmonary embolism: data from PIOPED II". Am J Med. 120 (10): 871–9. doi:10.1016/j.amjmed.2007.03.024. PMC 2071924. PMID 17904458.