Pulmonary embolism: a review of 200 cases with emphasis on pathophysiology, diagnosis, and treatment

ABSTRACT

Pulmonary embolism is not an uncommon occurrence in major medical centers. It is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in both medical and surgical patients. Clinical and laboratory findings are characteristically nonspecific and may be misleading. Venography, ventilation-perfusion lung scanning, and pulmonary angiography techniques are critical diagnostic tools. Various treatment modalities, including the use of heparin, warfarin, and streptokinase, are available to the physician and often affect both the short- and long-term medical course. The authors review 200 cases evaluated for the effectiveness of diagnostic procedures and methods of treatment for pulmonary embolism at The Cleveland Clinic Foundation.