Objective: To improve the early diagnosis of pulmonary embolism.
Methods: The clinical and pathological data of 23 cases of autopsy-proved pulmonary embolism in Beijing hospital from 1951 to 1994 were reviewed.
Results: 23 patients: male 18, female 5, age ranged from 34 to 82 years. Misdiagnosis rate was 87%. The unexplained dyspnea, chest pain, sudden onset dyspnea and sudden death were the most frequent symptoms. Arterial blood gas data frequently demonstrated hypoxia and hypocapnia. The most important causes of an incorrect diagnosis could be the failure of suspecting pulmonary embolism, because of the variability of clinical manifestation and the presence of other concomitant diseases.
Conclusion: All patients with otherwise severe unexplained dyspnea or chest pain have to be sent for perfusion lung scintigraphy, accordingly, underdetection of pulmonary embolism and mortality of pulmonary embolism could be reduced.