Risk factors of pulmonary thromboembolism in patients from a university hospital.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the impact of risk factors in the diagnosis of pulmonary thromboembolism.


METHODS
This was a retrospective study of 295 patients with suspicion of pulmonary embolism (PE), of whom 154 were referred from outpatient and 141 from inpatient departments for a period of 24 months (2000-2001) in Hacettepe University Hospital in Ankara.


RESULTS
Pulmonary thromboembolism was diagnosed in 71 patients (24.1%) with high probability ventilation/perfusion scintigraphy. Chronic renal failure, trauma, history of pulmonary thromboembolism and type of care were significantly associated with pulmonary thromboembolism, after adjusting for age and gender.


CONCLUSIONS
This retrospective study revealed that clinicians should keep PTE in mind, especially in the presence of risk factors. Ventilation/perfusion scintigraphy has been the procedure of choice for the assessment of patients with suspected PE.
Salanci
Bilge V
BV
Department of Nuclear Medicine, Hacettepe University Medical Center, Ankara, Turkey. bilgev@hacettepe.edu.tr
Kiratli
Pinar O
PO
Demir
Ahmet
A
Selcuk
Toros
T
D005260:Female; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000150:complications; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D014421:Turkey / Q000453:epidemiology; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000150:complications