Acute Medicine | Breathlessness 07 knowledge B

Symptoms and Signs of Pulmonary Embolism at Initial Presentation
Session Overview
Description
This session highlights the wide range of clinical features that pulmonary embolus (PE) may precipitate in patients.

Learning Objectives
By the end of this session you will be able to:

• Quantify the frequency of individual symptoms and signs of PE at initial presentation

The suspicion of a PE is a common reason for patients to be referred to Acute Medicine. One study found an annual incidence of PE to be 60-70 cases per 100 000 (Oger 2000). The classical presentation of PE is rare. This makes the diagnosis of PE complex.

Doctors need to have a high clinical suspicion of the diagnosis in order not to miss it. Untreated PE will be fatal in approximately 30% of patients.

Use this short session to revise the symptoms and signs which may be associated with PE.