Pulmonary embolism in medical patients: an autopsy-based study

Pulmonary embolism, though treatable, is a devastating disease and an important cause of morbidity and mortality among hospitalized patients. In all, 1000 autopsies were reviewed in adult medical patients. The overall incidence of pulmonary embolism in adult medical autopsies was 15.9% (159/1000). The incidence of pulmonary embolism contributing significantly to the death of the patients (groups 1 and 2) is 126/1000 (12.6%). Thus, pulmonary embolism very significantly contributed to death in 126/159 (79.24%) of group 1 and 2 patients. Pulmonary embolism affected a younger population as 79.87% of the overall patients, 66.67% of the fatal cases (group 1) and 73% of combined group 1 and 2 cases were below the age of 50 years. Sepsis was the primary diagnosis in 32% of total and in 42% of fatal cases. Hence, pulmonary embolism is considered as an important cause of death in patients admitted to the medical wards. It affects a younger population in India and needs to be tackled appropriately.