DOI: 10.36347/sjams.2021.v09i02.015

Pages: 253-256

Background: Pulmonary embolism is a potentially fatal disorder for which anticoagulation therapy improves the outcome. Aim is to study the clinical profile, diagnostic methods and management in patients with pulmonary embolism. Methods: Retrospective assessment of clinical features and management of 34 patients presenting with pulmonary embolism from January 2019 to December 2019 in the department of General Medicine at SDM CMS & H tertiary care centre. Results: 34 patients who were diagnosed to have pulmonary embolism with a mean age 51.3 years were included in the study. Dyspnea (30) and lower limb swelling were predominant symptoms. The most common ECG finding was sinus tachycardia in all patients followed by Q3T3 in 11 patients followed by RBBB in 9 patients followed by S1T3 and S1Q3T3 in 5 patients and T wave inversion in v2-v5 in 3 patients. 32 patients showed positive D dimer levels. 8 patients had hypoxia on arterial blood gas analysis. 15 patients had lower limb proximal deep vein thrombosis. Echocardiography was done in all patients. 26 patients had pulmonary arterial hypertension and 23 patients had RV dysfunction. Conclusion: Pulmonary embolism is a common problem and can be easily diagnosed provided it is clinically suspected. Early diagnosis and aggressive management is the key to successful outcome.