Wheezing in patients with acute pulmonary embolism with and without previous cardiopulmonary disease.
BACKGROUND
Wheezing is a little known but possible presentation feature of acute pulmonary embolism.


METHODS
A retrospective review of the records of 154 consecutive patients with acute pulmonary embolism, who survived long enough for diagnostic evaluation.


RESULTS
Fourteen patients with acute pulmonary embolism (9.1%) had wheezing at presentation. Wheezing was more frequent in patients with previous cardiopulmonary disease than in those without previous cardiopulmonary disease, although this did not reach statistical significance (13.5 versus 6.9%; P=0.17). Dyspnoea, cough and respiratory failure were more frequent with statistical significance in our patients with wheezing than in those without wheezing. The hospital mortality rate was similar in both groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Wheezing in acute pulmonary embolism may be more frequent in patients with previous cardiopulmonary disease. However, wheezing also occurs in patients with acute pulmonary embolism without previous cardiopulmonary disease. Wheezing may be a sign of severity in acute pulmonary embolism.
Calvo-Romero
José María
JM
Internal Medicine Service, Infanta Cristina University Hospital, Badajoz, Spain. jmcromero@hotmail.com
Pérez-Miranda
Manuel
M
Bureo-Dacal
Pedro
P
D000074:Acenocoumarol / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000208:Acute Disease; D000368:Aged; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006493:Heparin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012135:Respiratory Sounds / Q000209:etiology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D015912:Thrombolytic Therapy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
D000925:Anticoagulants; D006493:Heparin; D000074:Acenocoumarol