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]
Overview
The symptoms of a pulmonary embolism depend upon the severity of the disease. A pulmonary embolism can be symptomatic or asymptomatic and may even be diagnosed by imaging procedures performed for other diagnostic purposes.[1] The Prospective Investigation Of Pulmonary Embolism Diagnosis study (PIOPED) found the following symptoms in 97% of patients with angiographic proven PE.[2]
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 can exist:
- 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. Syncope is a rare but an important presentation of PE since it may indicate a severely reduced haemodynamic reserve.
Pulmonary embolism should be suspected[1] in all patients who present with the following symptoms, without an alternative obvious cause.
- Dyspnea (new or worsening)
- Chest pain
- Sustained Hypotension
However, the confirmed diagnosis is only possible in approximately 1/5th of the total patients.[3] Furthermore the diagnostic workup should be changed depending upon the patient's clinical presentation and hemodynamic stability.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Agnelli G, Becattini C (2010). "Acute pulmonary embolism". N Engl J Med. 363 (3): 266–74. doi:10.1056/NEJMra0907731. PMID 20592294.
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ Righini M, Le Gal G, Aujesky D, Roy PM, Sanchez O, Verschuren F; et al. (2008). "Diagnosis of pulmonary embolism by multidetector CT alone or combined with venous ultrasonography of the leg: a randomised non-inferiority trial". Lancet. 371 (9621): 1343–52. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(08)60594-2. PMID 18424324. Review in: ACP J Club. 2008 Sep 16;149(3):13