Comparison of Computed Tomography Pulmonary Angiograms at the University Hospital of the West Indies, Jamaica with Reported Cases in Literature / Comparación de las Angiografías Pulmonares por Tomografía Computarizada en el Hospital Universitario de West Indies, Jamaica, con los Casos Reportados en la Literatura

ABSTRACT Objective: This study was undertaken to determine the positive rate for computed tomography pulmonary angiograms (CTPAs) at the University Hospital of the West Indies (UHWI), to compare the positive rate at the UHWI to that reported in the literature and to compare the rates of positive CTPAs between the genders. Method: Data were obtained from the databases of the Radiology Department of the UHWI. All CTPAs performed to confirm a clinical diagnosis of pulmonary embolism and the results issued during the period January 1st 2013 and December 31st 2013 inclusive were reviewed. Only initial examinations of adequate diagnostic quality were included in the study. Results: Three hundred and thirteenth CTPAs were performed for initial diagnosis of pulmonary embolism. Sixteen examinations were excluded for inadequate diagnostic quality. Two hundred and ninety-seven examinations on 223 females and 74 males were included in the study. The means for age were 49.7 years and 55.1 years, respectively; the difference in the means was significant (p < 0.05). Ninety-four examinations (31.6%) on 22 males (7.4%, mean age 58.4 years) and 72 females (24.2%, mean age 57.5 years) were positive for pulmonary embolism. The difference in the means was not significant (p = 0.8). On Chi-squared test there was no significant difference in the percentage of positive CTPAs between males and females (p = 0.7). Conclusions: The percentage of positive CTPAs at the UHWI is high. There was no significant difference between the genders in the percentage of positive CTPAs or the mean age at which pulmonary emboli were detected.

ABSTRACT Objetivo: Este estudio se llevó a cabo con el propósito de determinar la tasa positiva de las angiografías pulmonares por tomografía computarizada (APTC) en el Hospital Universitario de West Indies (UHWI), comparar la tasa positiva en el UHWI con la que se reporta en la literatura, y comparar las tasas de APTC positivas entre géneros. Método: Se obtuvieron datos de las bases del Departamento de Radiología de UHWI. Se examinaron todas las APTC realizadas para confirmar un diagnóstico clínico de embolia pulmonar y los resultados emitidos durante el período del 1ero de enero de 2013 y 31 de diciembre de 2013 inclusive. En el estudio se incluyeron únicamente exámenes iniciales de calidad diagnóstica adecuada. Resultados: Trecientos trece APTC fueron realizadas para el diagnóstico inicial de embolia pulmonar. Se excluyeron 16 exámenes por poseer una calidad diagnóstica inadecuada. Doscientos noventa y siete exámenes de 223 hembras y 74 varones fueron incluidos en el estudio. Los promedios de edad fueron 49.7 años y 55.1 años respectivamente. La diferencia de los promedios fue significativa (p < 0.05). Noventa y cuatro exámenes (31.6%) de 22 varones (7.4%, edad promedio 58.4 años) y 72 hembras (24.2%, edad promedio 57.5 años) fueron positivos a la embolia pulmonar. La diferencia de los promedios no fue significativa (p = 0.8). En la prueba de Chi-cuadrado no hubo diferencias significativas en el porcentaje de APTC positivas entre varones y hembras (p = 0.7). Conclusiones: El porcentaje de APTC positivas en el UHWI es alto. No hubo diferencias significativas de género en el porcentaje de APTC positivas o la edad promedio a la que se detectaron los émbolos pulmonares.

Tromboembolismo pulmonar bilateral masivo puerperal, secundario a trombosis venosa profunda intraparto. A propósito de un caso / Postpartum massive bilateral pulmonary thromboembolism secondary to deep intrapartum venous thrombosis. A case report

Resumen ANTECEDENTES: la enfermedad tromboembólica es un cuadro clínico que puede manifestarse durante el embarazo, como un episodio aislado de trombosis venosa profunda en los miembros inferiores, o como tromboembolismo pulmonar. La prevalencia se considera baja: 1 caso por cada 1600 embarazos. El solapamiento de los síntomas de la enfermedad tromboembólica con el embarazo puede retrasar la sospecha clínica y complicar el establecimiento del diagnóstico. CASO CLÍNICO: paciente primigesta, de 37 años de edad, con un episodio de tromboembolismo pulmonar con inicio en el puerperio, asociado con trombosis venosa profunda intraparto como factor desencadenante que evolucionó favorablemente gracias al diagnóstico y tratamiento oportunos. CONCLUSIÓN: la importancia de este caso radica en la necesidad de actuar con rapidez para establecer el diagnóstico e indicar inmediatamente el tratamiento.

Abstract BACKGROUND: Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a combination of pathologies, which can manifest during pregnancy as an isolated lower extremity deep vein thrombosis (DVT) or as a pulmonary embolus (PE). The global prevalence is low, which occurs in 1 to 1600 pregnancies. CLINICAL CASE: A 37-year-old primigravid patient with an episode of pulmonary thromboembolism with onset in the puerperium associated with intrapartum deep venous thrombosis as a triggering factor that evolved favorably due to timely diagnosis and treatment. CONCLUSION: The importance of this case lies in the need to act quickly to establish the diagnosis and immediately indicate the treatment.

Admission rates for emergency department patients with venous thromboembolism and estimation of the proportion of low risk pulmonary embolism patients: a US perspective

OBJECTIVE: Introduction of target specific anticoagulants and recent guidelines encourage outpatient management of low risk patients with venous thromboembolism. We describe hospital admission rates over time for patients presenting to US emergency departments (EDs) with deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE) and estimate the proportion of low-risk PE patients who could potentially be managed as outpatients. METHODS: We performed a structured analysis of the National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (a nationally representative weighted sampling of US ED visits) database for the years 2006–2010 including all adult patients with a primary diagnosis of DVT or PE. Simplified pulmonary embolus scoring index (sPESI) scores were determined in patients with PE to identify low risk patients. RESULTS: There were an estimated 652,000 and 394,000 ED visits for DVT and PE over the 5-year period (0.17%). Mean (SE) age was 59 (1.3), 50% were female, and 40% were > 65 years. Admission rates for DVT and PE were 52% and 90% respectively with no significant changes over time. In patients with DVT, predictors for admission were age (odds ratio, 1.03 per year of age [95% confidence interval, 1.01 to 1.05]) and race (odds ratio, 4.1 [95% confidence interval, 0.9 to 19.8] for Hispanics and 2.9 [1.2 to 7.4] for Blacks). Of all ED patients with PE, 51% were low risk based on sPESI scores. CONCLUSION: Admission rates for DVT and PE have remained high and unchanged, especially with PE, minorities, and in older patients. Based on sPESI scores, up to half of PE patients might be eligible for early discharge or outpatient therapy.

Asymptomatic Pulmonary Embolus Following Percutaneous Kyphoplasty: A Case Report / 대한골다공증학회지

Percutaneous vertebroplasty is a relatively recent procedure in the treatment of osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures. Bone cement embolism is a severe and potentially life-threatening complication of percutaneous vertebroplasty with cement. The risk for cement pulmonary embolism ranges between 3.5 and 23% for osteoporotic fractures. Bone cement leakage may be usually more frequent with vertebroplasty than with kyphoplasty. We experienced a 69-year-old female patient of an asymptomatic pulmonary embolus (length 8 cm) after kyphoplasty for an osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture

An intense 18F-FDG pulmonary microfocus on PET without detectable abnormality on CT: A manifestation of an iatrogenic FDG pulmonary embolus

An incidental finding of an intense focus of 18F-Fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) pulmonary uptake on positron emission tomography (PET) without detectable lesions on computed tomography (CT) is highly suggestive of FDG microembolus. Its microscopic nature means it is undetectable on CT. It is an artefact attributable to 18F-FDG-tracer contamination at the injection site. This paper reports a case of a 61 year-old lady with a past history of breast carcinoma, in whom follow-up PET/CT images demonstrated an incidental intense FDG pulmonary abnormality. A follow-up PET/CT seven months later demonstrated complete resolution of the abnormality.

Large Pulmonary Embolus after Percutaneous Vertebroplasty: A Case Report / 대한척추외과학회지

Percutaneous vertebroplasty for osteoporotic compression fractures or malignant osteolytic spinal tumors provides pain relief. A pulmonary embolism caused by polymethylmethacrylate migration after this procedure is rare and its major complication, pulmonary infarction, involves necrosis of the lung parenchyme, resulting from interference with the blood supply. We report a case of a large pulmonary embolus (diameter 2 cm) after cement vertebroplasty for an osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture and successful management with anticoagulation only.