Syncope in acute pulmonary embolism.
BACKGROUND
Syncope is a possible but little known presenting manifestation of acute pulmonary embolism (PE). The importance of syncope at the presentation of acute PE is not known.


OBJECTIVE
To report the frequency and to establish the prognostic significance of syncope at the presentation of acute PE.


METHODS
A retrospective review of the records of 154 consecutive patients admitted to an Internal Medicine service with acute PE.


RESULTS
Fourteen patients with acute PE (9.1%) had syncope at presentation. Epidemiological and clinical characteristics (including respiratory failure, right heart failure and arterial hypotension), and hospital mortality were similar in patients with or without syncope.


CONCLUSIONS
Syncope is not an uncommonly presenting manifestation of acute PE. Patients with acute PE and syncope have similar characteristics to those without syncope. Syncope does not seem to determine a poor prognosis.
Calvo-Romero
José María
JM
Hospital Infanta Cristina, Badajoz, Spain. jmcromero@eresmas.com
Pérez-Miranda
Manuel
M
Bureo-Dacal
Pedro
P
D000208:Acute Disease; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007388:Internal Medicine; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013030:Spain; D013575:Syncope / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology