title: [Characteristics of acute, hemodynamically stable pulmonary embolism presenting as a syncope].
abstract: Syncope (S) occurs in approximately 10% patients with acute pulmonary embolism (APE) and is commonly ascribed to the massive, hemodynamically instable APE. The aim of the study was to assess the occurrence and significance of S revealing hemodynamically stable APE. We found syncope in 6 of 21 (29%) consecutive patients (16 females, 5 males; age from 46-87 years, mean age of 71 years) who were diagnosed with APE and in whom other reasons for S were excluded. All patients were treated with anticoagulation. They all survived hospitalization and no APE recurrences were found during in-hospital period. Patients with APE-S compared to patients with APE and without S had smaller baseline RVED (21.2 +/- 2 vs. 27.3 +/- 5.6, p = 0.01), however both groups did not differ statistically in baseline vital signs, angiographic, hemodynamic, other echocardiographic parameters as well as in the results of laboratory findings. It is concluded, that S signals hemodynamically stable APE more frequently than is quoted. APE-S patients could not be clearly discriminate from APE patients without S on the basis of the parameters studied and S did not impact the course of APE during in- hospital period.
authors.affiliation: Z Oddziału Kardiologii Wojewódzkiego Szpitala Specjalistycznego we Wrocławiu.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Błaszczyk
authors.forename: Jerzy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lewczuk
authors.forename: Piotr
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Piszko
authors.forename: Bartosz
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ludwik
authors.forename: Andrzej
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Konieczny
authors.forename: Małgorzata
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nowak
authors.forename: Marzena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Stopyra-Poczatek
authors.forename: Krzysztof
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wrabec
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011651:Pulmonary Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D011859:Radiography; D013575:Syncope / Q000209:etiology*; D014463:Ultrasonography
chemical_list: D000925:Anticoagulants