Pulmonary embolism.
Pulmonary embolism is one of the major diagnostic challenges facing the emergency physician, since the failure to rapidly diagnose and treat this condition can result in early mortality. Presently, as many as 100,000 preventable deaths a year may be caused by pulmonary embolism. A high index of suspicion and a well thought out approach to the diagnosis and treatment of this elusive condition should help emergency physicians to improve upon these statistics.
D001784:Blood Gas Analysis; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004562:Electrocardiography; D004630:Emergencies; D004632:Emergency Medical Services; D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006493:Heparin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007263:Infusions, Parenteral; D011379:Prognosis; D011651:Pulmonary Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy; D013902:Radiography, Thoracic; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D013924:Thrombophlebitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy
D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents; D006493:Heparin