title: [Clinical analysis of 15 cases of saddle pulmonary embolism].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To improve recognition of saddle pulmonary embolism (SPE).
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospectively review was performed for patients diagnosed with SPE determined by CTPA from Jan 2004 to Jan 2012.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fifteen SPE patients(4.44%) were found in 338 documented PE patients confirmed by CTPA. There were 7 males and 8 females, with an average age of (57 ± 13) years. The bifurcation of the main pulmonary artery was completely blocked in one case, while partial obstruction was found in the others. Hemodynamic stability was observed in 11 cases, shock in 1 case, and hypotension in 3 cases. Thromboembolectomy was performed in 1 case accompanied by patent foramen ovale straddling thrombus, and thrombolytic therapy was administered in 5 cases while anticoagulant therapy alone in 9 cases. All the cases survived. Minor bleeding was observed in 2 patients and no major bleeding occurred.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The prevalence of SPE in this series was similar to that reported in the literature. But the incidence might be underestimated. Mortality rate was low. No more aggressive therapeutic interventions (thrombolytics or catheter thrombectomy) were needed in those patients with hemodynamic stability and without patent foramen ovale straddling thrombus.
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Beijing Hospital, Beijing 100730, China.
authors.forename: He
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Bao-min
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Fang
authors.forename: Qi-hang
authors.initials: QH
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Xiao-mao
authors.initials: XM
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Zheng
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.forename: Yi-ming
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.forename: Tie-ying
authors.initials: TY
authors.lastname: Sun
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000792:Angiography; D004417:Dyspnea / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011651:Pulmonary Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013575:Syncope / Q000209:etiology; D017131:Thrombectomy; D015912:Thrombolytic Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents