Deceased elderly in-patients with pulmonary embolism

Abstract

Introduction: Pulmonary embolism (PE) in the elderly is an immediate threat of life. Especially in old age clinical signs of PE are non-specifi c and could be both underestimated and overestimated. Aim of the study: The retrospective long-term study was aimed at conducting an analysis and comparison of pertinent infl uence of age, gender and immobility on occurrence of PE and sudden death. Patients and method: Between 1995 and 2012 years we had altogether 12,746 elderly patients of an average age 80.6 ± 7.0 y (range 65-103 y) hospitalized at the Department of Geriatrics. All in-patients 65+ y were randomly admitted for internal hospitalization from the catchment area of Brno city (100,000 inhabitants). The subject of our interest was to study the documentation of deaths (including autopsy fi ndings), which was caused by PE. Out of this number there were 8,540 women (66.3 %) and 4,206 men (33.7 %). Among all hospitalized patients PE in 700 cases (5.5 % of all admitted patients) was shown in a medical report. Among them there were 424 survivors (60.6 %; 134 men and 290 women). Conclusion: The high occurrence of PE (particularly silent form) has crucial importance in the elderly mortality. Our recommendations would like to emphasize the need of no underestimation of this fact and to carry out preventive measures in all age groups (including the "oldest old" and frail persons) (Tab. 3, Ref. 41).

Performance of integrated pulmonary index for pulmonary embolism in dyspneic patients

“…Therefore, when a patient is admitted to ED for an episode of dyspnea, PE is rarely considered as a possible cause. However, PE is a potentially fatal disease, especially in the elderly population, and the delay in specifi c treatment increases the worst outcomes (3)(4)(5).…”

Treatment of lower extremity superficial vein thrombosis with low molecular weight heparin

“…PE in the elderly is an immediate threat of life (4). Due to a marked infl ammatory reaction of the venous wall in SVT, the thrombus fi rmly adheres to the venous wall, thus the risk for pulmonary embolism is substantially smaller than in deep venous thrombosis.…”

Study of Cardiac Arrest Caused by Acute Pulmonary Thromboembolism and Thrombolytic Resuscitation in a Porcine Model

“…[ 1 ] Besides cardiogenic diseases, there is increasing evidence for a considerable role of pulmonary thromboembolism (PTE). [ 2 3 ] Despite recent progress in the management of acute pulmonary embolism (PE),[ 4 ] it remains a major contributor to global disease burden. Studies from Western Europe, North America, Australia, and Southern Latin America (Argentina) provide consistent results with annual incidences ranging from 0.75 to 2.69/1000 individuals in the general population and increases to 2–7/1000 in subjects 70 years of age.…”