Clinico Radiological Profile of Pulmonary Thromboembolism in a Tertiary Care Hospital

Introduction The diagnosis of Pulmonary embolism (PE) is often missed due its varied clinico-radiological presentation. The presentation may vary from an incidental finding in an asymptomatic patient to sudden death. High index of suspicion is required for early diagnosis and prevention of mortality since pulmonary embolism is one of the important growing cause of mortality, morbidity and hospitalization worldwide. Aim To study the clinical and radiological profile of patients diagnosed with pulmonary thromboembolism. Methods This Retrospective observational study was carried out in 30 patients diagnosed with pulmonary embolism admitted in the year 2012 to 2015 a tertiary care hospital and their clinical and radiological profile was recorded and analyzed. Results The mean age of patients was 47.94 years. Male sex predominance was found. The most common predisposing factor was immobilization. Dyspnea was the most common symptom followed by swelling and pain of lower limb. Sinus tachycardia followed by RV strain was the significant ECG finding. Pulmonary arterial hypertension as assessed by ECHO was present in 86 % of patients. CT pulmonary angiogram finding revealed thrombus lodgment mainly in sub segmental level followed by segmental level. Conclusion Pulmonary embolism must be suspected in those patients presenting with acute breathlessness with normal chest X-ray and sinus tachycardia particularly when associated with RVstrain pattern in the presence of risk factors for PE. The awareness that classical findings of PE in X-ray and ECG are uncommon, need to be stressed among general practitioners and physicians.