Pulmonary embolism in the elderly.
A retrospective study was made of a consecutive series of patients over 65 years of age diagnosed as having a pulmonary embolus by either ventilation-perfusion lung scan or at necropsy. No clinical features were particularly helpful in making the diagnosis though signs of deep-vein thrombosis were present in 35%. Anticoagulants were well tolerated by all patients to whom they were prescribed. Postmortem findings showed a decreasing frequency of pulmonary emboli in the elderly which may indicate a reduction in predisposing factors.
Busby
W
W
University Department of Geriatric Medicine, Cardiff Royal Infirmary, South Glamorgan.
Bayer
A
A
Pathy
J
J
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001344:Autopsy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014859:Warfarin / Q000627:therapeutic use
D014859:Warfarin