Suggestive symptoms and signs of pulmonary thromboembolism in cardiac failure

Pulmonary thrombembolism can be a complication or it can lead to the onset of heart failure. The early diagnosis of pulmonary thromboembolism may make the difference between life and death. The aim of the study was to determine pulmonary thromboembolism incidence in patients with cardiac failure and to attempt diagnosis optimization.

Study group included 150 patients admitted at Medical Clinic II, Emergency Clinical County Hospital Constanta with preexistent known or unknown heart disease, which led to cardiac failure. Patients were suspected with incipient pulmonary thromboembolism. Dyspnea was the most frequently manifested symptom leading to pulmonary thromboembolism suspicion (99%). Pulmonary thromboembolism suggestive dyspnea displayed two forms: sudden onset of dyspnea and increased dyspnea in patients suffering from dyspnea at rest. Thoracic pain was present in approximately 90% of the patients and was manifested in two forms: retrosternal pain, not increasing with respiratory movement, and acute localized thoracic pain, accompanied by hemoptysis and dyspnea; these symptoms suggest pulmonary infarction.

Pulmonary thromboembolism complicates clinically manifested heart failure or precipitates heart failure onset in patients with latent myocardial dysfunction.