A 6-Year Epidemiological Study of Pulmonary Embolism in an Emergency Department

Objective To identify the epidemiology and early clinical features of patients with pulmonary embolism with a view to facilitate making the correct diagnosis. Methodology A retrospective study of patients admitted through the emergency department with a discharge diagnosis of pulmonary embolism in the computerised Clinical Management System from 1st January 1999 to 31st December 2004 in a public emergency general hospital in Hong Kong. Results Twenty-two patients were newly diagnosed to have pulmonary embolism and included in the study. The patients' clinical features and investigation findings were analysed. Old age and immobilisation were the most common risk factors identified. Nine patients were found to have deep vein thrombosis but none of them complained of calf pain during consultation in the emergency department. Most patients had symptoms of shortness of breath and chest pain on presentation. Fourteen patients had type 1 respiratory failure. The electrocardiogram and chest X-ray findings were non-specific. All the patients with D-dimer done showed positive results. CT scans were used in all patients to make the final diagnosis. Nineteen patients received low molecular weight heparin followed by warfarin and three patients had thrombolytic therapy. Conclusion Pulmonary embolism is not a commonly diagnosed disease in Hong Kong. The symptoms are non-specific and it is difficult to make the correct diagnosis in the emergency department.