Objective: To analyze the present status of diagnosis of pulmonary embolism (PE) by analyzing the clinical data of patients admitted during last 10 years to our hospital, in order to look for a significant diagnostic strategy to improve the diagnostic level.
Methods: The data of patients diagnosed to have PE in last 10 years were analyzed. In the last 5 months, the patients suspected to have PE were diagnosed by a comprehensive approach including clinical manifestations, lung scan and/or spirals computer tomography (SCT) in our emergency department.
Results: The diagnostic rate, the final diagnostic rate within 3 days and the diagnostic rate by lung scan or/and SCT were all higher in the last 3 months than ever. The proportions of angiograms and the overall 3-month PE risk were 2.8% and 0.
Conclusion: The comprehensive approach which includes clinical manifestations, lung scan and/or SCT can obviously improve the diagnostic level of PE.