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Clinical features of patients inappropriately undiagnosed of pulmonary embolism.
Am J Emerg Med. 2013 Sep 20;
Authors: Torres-Macho J, Mancebo-Plaza AB, Crespo-Giménez A, de Barros MR, Bibiano-Guillén C, Fallos-Martí R, Calderón-Parra J, de Miguel-Yanes JM
Abstract
PURPOSES: The objective of this study was to identify clinical factors associated with delayed diagnosis of acute pulmonary embolism (PE) in the emergency department (ED).
BASIC PROCEDURES: A retrospective observational study was performed at three University affiliated Hospitals; 436 consecutive patients who presented to the ED with an acute PE confirmed by chest computed tomography from 2008 to 2011 were included. Patients were divided into 3 groups: group 1, PE was diagnosed while the patient was still in the ED; group 2, PE was diagnosed during hospitalization; group 3, patients who were sent home with a wrong alternative diagnosis and returned to the ED and were diagnosed of PE.
MAIN FINDINGS: One hundred forty-six patients (33.5%) had a delayed diagnosis of PE-21.5% belong to group 2 and 11.9% to Group 3. Chronic coexisting medical conditions like asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease were independent predictors of a delayed diagnosis in patients who were admitted to hospital whereas non-specific and less severe symptoms like the presence of pleuro-mechanic thoracic pain, fever, hemoptysis, or the presence of a pulmonary infiltrate in chest x-ray were independent predictors of a delayed diagnosis in patients who were sent home.
PRINCIPAL CONCLUSIONS: Delay in diagnosis of acute PE is frequent despite current diagnostic strategies. Patients are sent home or admitted to hospital with a wrong diagnosis depending on clinical presentation or coexisting medical conditions.
PMID: 24060320 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]