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Previous Volume 358:1037-1052 March 6, 2008 Number 10 Next

	Since this article has no abstract, we have provided an extract of the first 100 words of the full text and any section headings.

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Pulmonary embolism, most commonly originating from deep venous thrombosis of the legs, ranges from asymptomatic, incidentally discovered emboli to massive embolism causing immediate death. Chronic sequelae of venous thromboembolism (deep venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolism) include the post-thrombotic syndrome¹ and chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension.² Acute pulmonary embolism may occur rapidly and unpredictably and may be difficult to diagnose. Treatment can reduce the risk of death, and appropriate primary prophylaxis is usually effective. Patients treated for acute pulmonary embolism appear to be almost four times as likely to die of recurrent thromboembolism in the next year as patients treated for deep . . . [Full Text of this Article]

Epidemiology and Pathophysiology

Risk Factors

Acquired Risk Factors

Genetic Disorders and Thromboembolic Risk

Diagnostic Approaches

Clinical Manifestations

Preliminary Laboratory Testing and Pretest Probability

Imaging Studies

Treatment

Anticoagulation

Placement of a Vena Caval Filter

Treatment of Massive Pulmonary Embolism

Complications of Thrombolytic Therapy

Prognosis

Prevention

Pregnancy and Acute Pulmonary Embolism

Conclusions

Source Information

From the Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC.

Address reprint requests to Dr. Tapson at the Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Rm 351, Bell Bldg, Box 31175, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, 27710, or at tapso001@mc.duke.edu.

Related Letters:

Acute Pulmonary Embolism
Fraser E. P., Geddes C. C., Alijotas-Reig J., Castiglione T. F., Naina H. V., Quevedo F. J., Tapson V. F.
Extract | Full Text | PDF  
N Engl J Med 2008; 358:2744-2746, Jun 19, 2008. Correspondence

This article has been cited by other articles:

• Carron, M., Ori, C. (2008). Thrombolysis for massive pulmonary tumour embolism in a patient with cavoatrial renal carcinoma. Br J Anaesth 101: 285-286 [Full Text]  
• Fraser, E. P., Geddes, C. C., Alijotas-Reig, J., Castiglione, T. F., Naina, H. V., Quevedo, F. J., Tapson, V. F. (2008). Acute Pulmonary Embolism. NEJM 358: 2744-2746 [Full Text]